
Class ' (q/' 
Book'LS'/zi 



il ry^ r~^ T3 ^7- _£V^ 




OF 



Chickasaw and Howard Counties 



lOAV^ 



BY W^. E. ALEXANDER 



DECOaAH, IOWA: 
Western Publishing Company. 
. 1883. 



R 



n . C\l\^, 






Sj. \S 



o 9> 



s 



of 



PREFACE. 



The object of this work is to place upon record in a reliable man- 
ner and in a permanent form what ever incidents of importance may- 
have transpired, within the limits of Howard and Chickasaw coun- 
ties, since their first settlement. While the publisher does not 
arrogate to himself a degree of accuracy beyond criticism, he 
hopes to be found measureably correct, in the compilation, and ar- 
rano-ement, of the almost immeasurable incidents that have been 
swallowed up in the past, and that enter so largely into the pres- 
ent of the community, in whose interest this volume is written. 

Without the aid and assistance of the pioneers,or their immedi- 
ate descendants, and numerous notes from their carefully written, 
and well preserved diaries, the task would have been far more 
arduous and difficult. To the patriarchs of the past, who have so 
favored us; as well as to the representative men of the present we 
tender our grateful acknowledgement. Among those we take 
especial pleasure in mentioning are J. H. Powers, Jos. F. Grawe, 
B. A. Billino-s, L. E. Smith, W. R. Mead and John E. Peck, whose 
retentive memories, and carefully preserved newspaper files and 
general records, have added largely to whatever of interest may be 
found in this volume. 

The undertaking of the publisher completed, it only remains to 
tender to the people of Howard and Chickasaw counties in gene- 
ral his obligations and acknowledgement, for the uniform kind- 
ness and courtesy extended to him and his representatives and 
agents, during the preparation of these annals, as well as for their 
liberal patronage, without which this history would have been left 
buried beneath the debris of time, unwritten and unprepared. 

Respectfully, 

W. E. ALEXANDER. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION. 

The name Iowa is said to signify "The Beautiful Land," and 
was appHed to this magnificent and fruitful region by its ancient 
owners, to express their appreciation of its superiority of climate, 
soil and location. Prior to 1803, the Mississiijpi River was the 
extreme western boundary of the United States. All the great 
Empire lying west of the "Father of Waters," from the Gulf of 
Mexico on the south, to British America on the north, an(f west- 
w^ard to the Pacific Ocean, was a Spanish province. A brief his- 
torical sketch of the discovery and occupation of this great em- 
pire by the Spanish and French governments will be a fitting in- 
troduction to the young and thriving state of Iowa, which, until 
the commencement of the present century, was a part of the 
Spanish possessions in America. 

Early in the spring of 1-^ 2, Ferdinand DeSoto discovered the 
mouth of the Mississii^pi River at the mouth of the Washita. 
After the sudden death of DeSoto, in May, of the same year, his 
followers l^uilt a small vessel, and in July, 1543, descended the 
great river to the Gulf of Mexico. 

In accordance with the usage of nations, under wliicli title to 
the soil was claimed by right of discovery, Spain, having con- 
quered Florida and discovered the Mississippi, claimed all the ter- 
ritory bordering on that river and the Gulf of Mexico. But it 
was also held by the European nations that, discovery gave title, 
that title must be, perfected by actual possession and occupation. 
Although Spain claimed the territory by right of first discovery, 
she made no effort to occupy it ; by no permanent settlement had 
she perfected and held lier title, and therefore had forfeited it 
when, at a later period, the Lower Mississippi Valley was re-dis- 
covered and occupied by France. 

The labors of the zealous French Jesuits of Canada in pene- 
trating the unknown rigion of the West, commencing in 1611, 
form a history of no ordinary interest, but have no particular con- 
nection with the scope of the present w^ork, until in the fall of 1665. 
Pierre Claude Allouez, who had entered Lake Superior in Septem- 
ber and sailed along the southern coast in search of cop])er, had 
arrived at the great village of the Chippewas at Chegoincegon. 
Here a grand council of some ten or twelve of the princii)al Indian 
nations was held. The Pottawatomies of Lake Michigan, and Sacs 
and Foxes of the West, the Hurons from the North, the Illinois 



10 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

from the South, and the Sioux from the land of prairie and wild 
rice, were all assembled there. The Illinois told the story of their 
Ancient glory, and about the noble river on the banks of which 
they dwelt. The Sioux also told their white brother of the same 
great river, and Allouez i^romised to the assembled tribes the 
protection of the French nation against all their enemies, native or 
foreign. 

The purpoi^ of discovering the great river about which the In- 
dian nations liad given such glowing accounts, appears to have 
originated with Marquette, in 1669. In the year previous, he and 
Claude Dablon had established the Mission of St. Mary's, the old- 
est white settlement within the present limits of the state of Mich- 
igan. Marquette was dela3^ed in the execution of his great under- 
taking, and spent the interval in studying the language and hab- 
its of the Illinois Indians, among whom he expected to travel. 

Alx)ut this time the French government had determined to ex- 
tendThe Dominion of France to the extreme western borders of 
Canada. Nicholas Perrott was sent as the agent of the govern- 
ment to propose a grand council of the Indian nation, at St. 
Mary's. 

When Perrot reached Green Bay, he extended the invitation 
far and near ; and, escorted by Pottawatomies, repaired on a mis- 
sion of peace and friendship to the Miamis, who occupied the re- 
gion about the present location of Chicago. 

In May, 1671, a great council of Indians gathered at the Falls 
of St. Mary, fr-om all parts of the northwest, from the head waters 
of the St. Lawrence, from the valley of the Mississippi and from 
the Red River of the North. Perrot met with them, and after 
grave consultation, formally announced lo the asseml^led nations 
that their good French Father felt an abiding interest in their wel- 
fare, and had placed them all under the powerful protection of the 
French Government. 

Marquette, during that same year had gathered at Point St. 
Ignace the remnants of one branch of the Hurons. This station, 
for a long series of years, was considered the kev to the unknown 
West. 

The time was now auspicious for the consummation of Mar- 
quette's grand project. The successful termination of Perrott's 
mission, and the general friendliness of the native tribes, rendered 
the contemplated expedition much less perilous. But it was not 
until 1673 that the intrepid and enthusiastic priest Avas finally 
ready to depart on his daring and perilous journey to lands never 
trod by white men. Having implored the blessing of God upon 
his undertaking, on the 13th day of May, 1673, with Joliet and 
five Canadian-French voyageurs, or ]:)oatmen, he left the mission 
on his daring journey. Ascending Green Bay and Fox River, 
these bold and enthusiastic pioneers of religion and discovery pro- 
ceeded until they reached a Miami and Kickapoo village, where 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 11 

Marquette was delighted to lind a "beautiful cross planted in the 
middle of the town, ornamented with white skins, red girdles and 
bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great 
Manitou, or God, to thank Him for the pity He had bestowed on 
them during the winter, in having given them abundant chase." 
This was the extreme point beyond which the explorations of the 
French missionaries had not then extended. He called together 
the principal men of the village, and informed them that his com- 
panion, Joliet, had been sent by the French Governor of Canada 
to discover new countries, to be added to the dominion of France ; 
but that he, himself, had been sent by the Most High God, to 
carry the glorious religion of the Cross ; and assured his wonder- 
ing hearers that on this mission he had no fear of death, to which 
he knew he would be expos^ed on his perilous journey. 

Obtaining the services of two Miami guides, to conduct his 
little band to the Wisconsin River, he left the hospitable Indians 
on the 10th of June. Conducting them across the portage, their 
Indian guides returned to their village, and the little party de- 
scended the Wisconsin, to the great river which had so long been 
so anxiously looked for, and boldly floated down its unknown 
waters. 

On the 25th of June, the explorers discovered indications of In- 
dians on the west bank of the river, and landed a little above the 
mouth of the river now known as Des Moines, and for the first 
time European trod the soil of Iowa. Leaving the Canadians to 
guard the canoe, Marquette and Joliet boldly followed the trail in- 
to the interior for fourteen miles (some authorities say six), to an 
Indian ^dllage situated on the banks of a river, and discovered 
two other villages, on the rising ground about a half a league dis- 
tant. Their visit, while it created much astonishment, did not 
seem to be entirely iHiexpected, for there was a tradition or 
prophec}^ among the Indians that white visitors were to come to 
them. They were, therefore, received with great respect and hos- 
pitality, and were cordially tendered the calumet or i^ipe of peace. 
They were informed that this band was a part of the Illini nation, 
and that their village was called Monin-gou-ma or Moingona, 
which was the name of the river on it stood. This from its simi- 
larity of sound, Marquette corrupted into Des Moines (Monk's 
River) its present name. 

Here the voyagers remained six days, learning much of the 
manners and customs of their new friands. The new religion 
they boldly preached, and the authority of the King of France 
they proclaimed were received Avitho'ut hostilit}^ or remonstrance 
by their savage entertainers. On their departure, they were ac- 
companied to their canoes by the chiefs and hundreds of warriors. 
Marquette received from them tlie sacred calumet, the emblem of 
peace and safeguard among the nations, and re-embarked for the 
rest of their journey. 



12 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

In 1682, TjaSalle deBcended tlie Mississip])! to the Gulf of Mex- 
ico, and in tlie name of the King of France took formal possession 
of all the immense region watered by the great river an(l its tribu- 
taries from its source to its mouth, and named it Louisiana, in 
honor of his master, I.ouis XIV. At the close of the seventeenth 
century, France claimed, by right of discovery and occupancy, the 
whole valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries, including Texas, 
as far as the Kio del Norte. 

In 1719, Philli])e Francis Renault arrived in Illinois with two 
hundred miners and artisans. Tlie war between France and Hpain 
at this time rendered it extremely probable that the Mississippi 
Valley might become the theater of S])anish hostilities against the 
French settlements ; to prevent-this, as ^^'ell as to extend French 
claims, a chain of forts was begun, to keej) oi)en the connection 
between the mouth and the source of the JNlississippi. Fort Or- 
leans, high up the IVIissouri River, Avas l)uilt as an outpost in 1720. 

The ]Viississi])i)i scheme was at the zeriith of its power and glory 
in January, 1720, but the gigantic bu])ble collajised more suddenly 
than it had lieen inflated, and the company was declared liope- 
lessly bankrujit in INlay following. France was impoverished by 
it, both private and public credit was overthrown, capitalists sutl- 
denly found themselves paupers, and labor was left without em- 
ployment. The efiect on the colony of Ijouisiana was A^ery dis- 
astrous. 

While this was going on in Lower Louisiana the region about 
the lakes was the theater of Indian hostilities, rendering tli£ 
passage from Canada to Louisiana extremely dangerous for maiiy 
years. The Fnglish had not only extended their Indian trade in- 
to the vicinity of the French settlement, ])ut through their friends, . 
the Iroquois, had gained a marked ascendan{;y over the Foxes, a 
fierce and })owerful tribe, of Iroquois descent, whom they incited 
to hostilities against the French. The Foxes l)egan their hos- 
tilities with the siege of Detroit, in 1712, a siege which continued 
for nineteen consecutive days, and although the expedition re- 
sulted in diminishing their numbers and hum})ling their pride, 
yet it was not until after several successive cam])aigiis, cml)odying 
the best military resources of New France, had been directed 
against them, that they' were finally defeated at the great battles 
of Butte des Morts, and on the Wisconsin river, and (h-iven west 
in 1746. 

The Company, having found that the cost of defending Louisi- 
ana exceeded the returns from its commerce, solicited leave to sur- 
render the Mississip]n wilderness to the home government. Ac- 
cordingly, on the 10th of A]»ril, 1732, the jurisdiction and control 
over the commerce reverted to the crown of France. The Com- 
pany had held jxissession of Louisiana fourteen years. In 1725, 
Bienville returned to assume eonnnand for the King. 

A glance at a few of the old French settlement will show the 
progress made in portions of Louisiana during tlie early part of 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 13 

the eighteenth century. As early as 1705, traders and hunters had 
penetrated the fertile regions of the Wabash, and from this region 
at that early date, fifteen thousand hides and skins had been col- 
lected and sent to Mobile for the European market. 

In the year 171G, the French population on the Wabash kept up 
a lucrative commerce with Mobile by means of traders and voyag- 
eurs. The Ohio river was com]jaratively unknown. 

In 1746, agriculture on the Wabash had attained to greater 
prosperity than in any of the French settlements besides, and in 
that year six hundred barrels of fiour Avere manufactured and 
shipped to New Orleans, together with considerable quantities of 
hay, peltry, tallow and beeswax. 

In the Illinois country, also, considerable settlement had been 
made, so that, in 1780, they embraced one hundred and forty 
French families, about six hundred "converted Indians," and many 
traders and voyageurs. 

In 1758, the first actual conflict arose between Louisiana and 
the Atlantic colonies. From the earliest advent of the Jesuit 
fathers, up to the period of which we speak, the great ambition of 
the French had been, not alone to preserve their possessions in the 
West, but by every possible means to prevent the slightest attempt 
of the English, east of the mountains, to extend their settlement 
towards the Mississippi. France was resolved on retaining posses- 
sion of the great territory which her missionaries had discovered 
and revealed to the world. French commandants had avowed 
their intention of seizing every Englishman within the Ohio 
Valley. 

The colonies of Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia were 
most affected by the encroachments of France in the extension of 
her dominion ; and particularly in the great scheme of uniting 
Canada with Louisiana. To carry out this purpose the French 
had taken i)OSsession of a tract of country claimed by Virginia, 
and had commenced a line of .foi'ts extending from the lakes to the 
Ohio River. Virginia was not only alive to her own interests, but 
attentive to the vast importance of an immediate and effectual re- 
sistance on the part of all the English colonies to the actual and 
contemplated enrochments of the French. 

In 1753, Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia, sent George Washing- 
ton, then a young man, just twenty-one, to demand of the French 
commandant "a reason for invading British Dominions while a 
solid peace subsisted." Washington met the French commandant 
Gardcur de St. Pierre, on the headwaters of the Alleghany, and 
having communicated to him the object of his journey, received 
the insolent answer that the French would not discuss the matter 
of right, but would make prisoners of every Englishman found 
trading on the Ohio and its waters. The country, he said, belong- 
ed to the French, by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and they 
would not withdraw from it. 



14 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

In Jaiuiary, 17r)4, Washington returned to Virginia, and made 
his report to the Governor and Council. Forces were at once rais- 
ed, and Wasliington as Lieutenant Colonel, was dispatched at the 
head of a hundred and fifty men, to the Forks of the Ohio, with 
orders to "finish the fort already bagun there by the Ohio company, 
and to make prisoners, kill or destroy all who interrupted the 
English settlements." 

On his march through the forests of Western Pennsylvania, 
Washington, through the aid of friendly Indians, discovered the 
French concealed among the rocks, and as they ran to seize their 
arms, ordered his men to fire upon them, at the same time, with 
his own musket, setting the example. An action lasting about a 
quarter of an hour ensued ; teji of the Frenchmen were killed, 
among them Jumonville, the commander of the i)arty, and twenty 
one were made prisoners. The dead were scalped by the Indians, 
and the chief, ])earing a tomahawk and a scalp, visited all the tribes 
of the Miamis, urging them to join the Six Nations and the Eng- 
lish against the French. The French, however, were soon re-en- 
forced and Col. Washington was compelled to return to Fort Ne- 
cessity. Here, on the od day of July, DeVilliers invested the fort 
with 600 French troops and 100 Indians. On the 4th, Washing- 
ton accepted terms of capitulation and the French garrison with- 
drew from the valley of tlie Ohio. 

This attack of Washington upon Jumonville aroused the indig- 
nation of France, and war was formerly declared in May, 1756, 
and the "French and Indian war" devastated the colonies for seve- 
ral years. jNIontreal, Detroit, and all Canada were surrendered to 
the English, aud on the 10th of February, 1763, by the treaty of 
Paris — whicli had been signed, though not formerly ratified by 
the respective governments, on the third of November, 1762 — 
France relinquished to Great Britain all that portion of the prov- 
ince of Louisiana lying on the east side of the. Mississippi, except 
the Island and town of New Orleans. On the same day that the 
treaty of Paris Avas signed, France, by a seg^-et treaty, ceded to 
Spain all her possessions oh the west side of the Mississippi, includ- 
ing the whole country to the headwaters of the Great River, 
a«id west to the Rocky JNIountains, and the jurisdiction of 
France in America, which had lasted nearly a century, was 
ended. 

At the close of the Revolutionary war, by the treaty of peace be- 
tween Great Britain and the United States, the English govern- 
ment ceded to the latter all the territory on the east side of the 
Mississippi River, and north of the thirty-first parallel of north 
latitude. At tlie same time Great Britain ceded to Spain all the 
Floridas, comprising all the territory east of the Mississippi and 
south of the southern limits of the United States. 

At this time, therefore, the present State of Iowa was a part ot 
the Spanish possessions in North America, as all the territorv west 



HJSTORY OF IOWA. 15 

of the Mississippi River was under the dominion of Spain. . That 
government also possessed all the territory of the Floridas east of 
the great river and south of the thirty-first parallel of north lati- 
tude. The Mississippi, therefore, so essential to the prosperity of 
the western portion of the United States, for the last three hundred 
miles of its oourse flowed wholly within the Spanish dominions, 
and that government claimed the exclusive right to use 
and control it below the southern boundary of the United 
States. 

The free navigation of the Mississi])pi was a very important 
question during all the time that Louisiana remained a dependency 
of the Spanish Crown, and as the final settlement intimately affect- 
ed the status of the then future state of Iowa, it will be interesting 
to trace its jjrogress. 

The people of the United States occupied and exercised jurisdic- 
tion over the entire eastern valley of the Mississippi, embracing all 
.the countr}^ drained by its eastern tril)utaries ; they had a natural 
right, according to the accepted international law, to follow these 
rivers to the sea, and to the use of the Mississippi River accord- 
ingly, as the great natural channel of commerce. The river was 
not only necessary but absolutely indispensil^le to the prosperity 
and growth of the western settlement then rapidly rising into com- 
mercial and political importance. The}^ were situated in tlie heart 
of the great valley, and with wonderful expansive energies and ac- 
cumulating resources, it was very evident that no power on earth 
could deprive them of the free use of the river below them, only 
whiie their numbers were insufficient to enable them to maintain 
their rights ]jy force. Inevitably, therefore, immediately after the 
ratification of the treat}' in 1785, the western peoi:)le began to de- 
mand the free navigation of the Mississippi — not as a favor, but as a 
right. In 1786 ])f)th banks of the river, below the Ohio, were 
occui)ietl Ijy Spain, and military posts on the east bank enforced 
her j:)Ower to exact heavy duties on all imports by way of the 
river for the Oliio region. Every boat descending the river was 
forced to land and submit to the arbitrary revenue exactions of 
Spanish authorities. Under the administration of Governor Miro, 
these rigorous exactions were somewhat relaxed from 1787 to 1790; 
but Spain held it as her right to make them. Taking advantage 
of the claim of the American jjcople, that the Mississipj)i should 
be opened to them, in 1791, the Spanish Government concocted 
a scheme for the dismembership of the Union. The plan 
was to induce the Western ]:)eople to separate from the 
Eastern States by liberal land grants and extraordinary connner- 
cial privileges. 

Spanish emissaries, among the people of Ohio and Kentucky, 
informed them that the Spanish Government would grant them 
favorably commercial privileges, provided they would secede from 
the Federal Government cast of the mountains. The Spanish 



16 HISTORY OJ IOWA. 

Minister to the United States plainly declared to his confiden- 
tial correspondent that, unless the Western people would declare 
their independence and refuse to remain in the Union, Spain 
was determined never to grant the free navigation of the Missis- 
sippi. 

By the treaty of Madrid, October 20, 1795, however, Spain for- 
mally stipulated that the Mississippi River, from its source to the 
Gulf for its entire width, should be free to American trade and 
commerce and that the people of the United States should be per- 
mitted for three years to use the port of New Orleans as a port of 
deposit of their merchandise and produce, duty free. 

In November, 1810, the United States Government received, 
through Rufus King, its Minister at the Court of St James, a copy 
copy of the treaty between Spain and France, signed at Madrid, 
March 21, 1801, by which the cession of Louisiana to France 
made the previous autumn, was confirmed. 

The change offered a favorable opportunity to secure the just 
rights of the United States, in relaton to the free navigation of the 
Mississippi, and ended the attempt to dismember the Union by an 
effort to secure an indendent government Avest of the Alleghany 
Mountains. On Ttli day of January, 1803, the American 
House of Representatives adopted a resolution declaring their "un- 
alterable petermination to maintain the boundaries and the rights 
of navigation and commerce through the River Mississippi, as es- 
tablished by existing treaties." 

In the same month President Jefferson nominated and the Sen- 
ate confirmed Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe as Envoys 
Plenipotentiary to the Court of France, and Charles Pinckney and 
Jamas Monroe to the Court of Spain, with plenty of power to ne- 
gotiate treaties to effect to object the enunciated by the popular 
branch of the National Legislature. These envoys were instructed 
to secure, if possible, the cession of Florida and New Orleaans to 
the United States, but it does not appear that Mr. Jeflfcrson 
had any idea of purchasing that part of Louisiana lying on the 
west side of the Mississippi. In fact, on the 2d of March following 
the instructions were sent to our Ministers, containing a plan which 
expressly left to France "all her territory on the west side of the 
Mississippi." Had these instructions been followed, it might have 
been that there would not have been any State of Iowa or any other 
member of the glorious Union of States west of the Father of Waters. 

In obedience to his instructions, however, Mr. Livingston 
broached this plan to M. Talleyrand, Napoleon's Prime Minister, 
when that courtly diplomatist quietly suggested to the American 
Minister that France might be willing to cede the whole French 
dominion in North America to the United States, and asked how 
much the Federal Government would be willing to give for it. 
Livingston intimated that twenty million francs might be a fair 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 17 

price. Talleyrand thought that not enough, but asked the Ameri- 
can to "think of it." A few days later, Napoleon, in an interview 
with Mr. Livingston, in effect informed the American Envoy 
that he had secured Louisiana in a contract with Spain for the 
purpose of turning it over to tlie United States for a mere nominal 
sum. He had been compelled to provide for the safety of that 
province by the treaty, and he was anxious to give the United 
States a magnificent bargain for a mere trifle. The price projDosed 
was one hunflred and twenty-five million francs. This was subse- 
quently modified to fifteen million dollars, and on this basis 
a treaty was negotiated, and was signed on th9 30th day of April, 
18(a 

This treaty was ratified by the Federal Government, and by ac- 
of Congress, approved October 31, 1803, the President of the Unit- 
ed States was authorized to take possession of the territory and 
provide for a temporary government. Accordingly, on the 20th 
day of September following, on behalf of the President, Governor 
Clairborne and Gen. Wilkinson took possession of the Louisiana 
purchase, and raised the American flag over the newly acquired 
domain , at New Orleans. Spain, although it had by treaty ceded 
the province to France in 1801, still held quasi possession and at 
first objected to the transfer, but withdrew her opposition early in 
1804. 

By this treaty, thus successfully consummated, and the peace- 
abla withdrawal of Spain, the then infant nation of the New 
World extended its dominion west of the Mississij^pi to the Pa- 
cific ocean, and north from the Gulf of Mexico to British 
America. 

If the original design of Jefferson's administration had been 
accomplished, the United States would have acquired only that 
portion of the French territory lying east of the Mississippi River, 
and while the American people would thus have acquired the free 
navigation of that great river, all of the vast and fertile empire on 
the west, so rich in its agricultural and inexhaustible mineral re- 
sources, would have remained under the dominion of a foreign 
power. To Napoleon's desire to sell the whole of his North Amer- 
ican possessions, and Livingston's act transcending hisinstructions 
which was acquiesced in after it was done, does Iowa owe her 
position as a part of the United States by the Louisiana pur- 
chase. 

By authority of an act of Congress, approved March 26, 1804, 
the newly acquired territory was, on the first day of October fol- 
lowing, divided: that part lying south of the thirty-third parallel 
of north latitude was called tha territory of Orleans, and all north 
of that parallel the District of Louisiana, which was placed under 
the authority of the officers of Indian Territory, until July 4, 1805, 
when it was organized with territorial government of its own, 
g^nd so remained until 1812, when the Territory of Orleans became 



18 ■ HISTOKY OF IOWA. 

the State of Louisiana, and the name of the Territory of Louisiana 
was changed to Missouri. On the 4th of Jul}^, 1814, that part of 
the Missouri Territor}^ comprising the present State of Arkansas, 
and the country to the westward was organized into the Arkansas 
•Territory. 

On the 2d of March, 1821, the State of Missouri, heing a part 
of the territory of that name, was admitted to the Union. June 
28, 1834, the territory west of the INIississipiji River and north of 
Missouri, was made a part of the territory of Michigan; but two 
years later on the 4th of July, 1836, Wisconstli Territory was 
erected, embracing Avithin its limits the present States of Iowa, 
Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

By act of Congress, approved June 12, 1888, the 

TERRITORY OF IOWA 

was erected, comprising, in addition to the present State, much 
the larger part of Minnesota, and extending north to the boundary 
of the British possessions. 

THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. 

Having traced the early histor}'^ of the great empire lying west 
of the Mississippi, of which ihe State of Iowa constitutes a part 
from the earliest discovery to the organization of the Territory of 
Iowa, it becomes necessary to give some history of the Indian's of 
Iowa. 

According to the policy of the European nations, possession 
perfected title to any territory. We ha^^e seen that the country 
west of the Mississippi was first discovered by the Spaniards, but 
afterwards, was visited and occupied by the French. It was ceded 
by Fran(;e to Spain, and by Spain back to France again, and then 
was purchased and occupied by the United States. During all that 
time, it does not appear to have entered into the heads or hearts 
of the higli contracting partioB that the country they bought, sold 
and gave away was in the possession of a race of men, who, al- 
though savage, owned the vast domain before Columbus first 
crossed the Atlantic. Having purchased the territory the United 
States found it still in ])ossession of its original owners, Avho had 
never been dispossesed; and it became necessary to purchase again , 
what had already been bought before, or forcibly eject the occu- 
pants; therefore, tbe history of the Indian nations who occupied 
Iowa i)rior to and during its early settlement hj the whites, be- 
comes an important chapter in the history of the State, that can- 
not be omitted. 

For more than one hundred years after jNIarquette and Joliet 
trod the virgin soil of Iowa, not a single settlement had been 
made or attempted; not even a trading post had been established. 
The whole country remained in the undisputed possession of the 
native tribes, who roamed at will over her beautiful and fertile 
prairies, hunted in lier woods, fished in her streams, and often 



HISTORY OP" IOWA. 19 

poured out their life-blocxl in obstinately Wiutested contests for 
supremacy. That this State so aptly styled "The Beautiful 
Land," had been the theater of numerous fierce and bloody 
struggles l)etween rival nations, for possessions of the favored re- 
gion, long before its settlement b}^ civilized man, there is no room 
for doubt. In these savage wars, the weaker party whether ag- 
gressive or defensive, was either exterminated or driven from their 
ancient hunting grounds. 

In 1673, when Marquette discovered Iowa, the Iliini were a very 
jDowerful people, occupying a large i)ortion of the State, but when 
the country was again visited by the whites, not a remnant of that 
once powerful tribe remained on the west side of the ^lississippi, 
and Iowa was principally in the possession of the Sacs and Foxes, 
a war-like tribe which, originall}^ two distinct nations, residing in 
New York and on the waters of the 8t. Lawi'ence, had gradually 
fought their way westward, and united, probal)ly, after the Foxes 
had been driven out of the Fox River country, in 1846, and (grossed 
the Mississippi. The death of Pontiac, a famous Sac chieftain, 
was made the jjretext for war against the Iliini, and a fierce and 
bloody struggle ensued, which continued until the Illinois were 
nearly destroyed and their hunting gnnmds })ossessed by their 
victorious foes. The lowas also occupied a portion of the State 
for a time, in common with the Sacs, but they, too, were nearly 
destroyed by the Sacs and Foxes, and, in "The Beautiful Land," 
these natives met their ecpially war-like foes, the Northern Sioux, 
with whom they maintained a constant warfare for tlie jjossession 
of the country for many years. 

When the United States came in i)ossession of tbe great valley 
of the Mississippi, by the Louisiana ]jurchase, the Sacs and Foxes 
and lowas possessetl tiie entire territory, now comprising the State 
of Iowa. The Sacs and Foxes, also occupied the most of the 
State of Illionois. 

The Sacs had four jnincipal villages, where most of them re- 
sided, viz.: 'Xheh- largest and most important town — if an Indian 
village may l^e called such — and from which emanated most of the 
obstacles and difhculties encountered by the Government in the 
extinguishment of Indian titles to land in this region, was on 
Rock River, near Rock Island; another was on the east bank of 
the Mississippi, near the mouth of Henderson River; the third 
was at the head of the Des JNloines Ra})ids, near the present site 
of Montrose, and the fourth was near the moutli of the Ujiper- 
Iowa. 

The Foxes had three jn'incipal villages, viz. : One on the west 
side of the Mississippi, six miles above the rapids of Rock River; 
another about twelve miles from the river, in the rear of the 
Dubuque lead mines, and the third on Turkey River. 

The lowas, at one time identified with the Sacs, of Rock River, 
liad withdrawn from them and become a separate tribe. Their 



20 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

princijDal village was on the Des Moines River, in Van Bnren 
County, on the site where lowaville now stands. Here the last 
great battle between the Sacs and Foxes and tlie lowas was fought, 
in which Black Hawk, then a young man, commanded one division 
of the attacking forces. 

The Sacs had a iicrce conflict with tlic Winnebagoes, suljdued 
them and took possession of their lands. Their village on Rock 
River, at one time, contained upward of sixty lodges, and was 
among the largest Indian villages on the continent. In 1825, the 
Secretary of War estimated the entire number of the Sacs and 
Foxes- at 4,600 souls. Their villages was situated in the immediate 
vicinity of the up})er rai)ids t)f the Mississippi, where the beautiful 
and flourishing towns of Rock Island and Davenport are now situ- 
ated. Tiie beautiful scenery of the island, the extensive prairies, 
dotted over with groves; the picturesque bluffs along the river 
banks, the rich and fertile soil, })roducing large crops of corn, 
squash and other vegetables, with little labor; the abundance of 
Avild fruit, game, fish, and almost everything calculated to make 
it a delightful sfMit for an Indian village, which was found 
there, had made this place a favorite home of the Sacs, and se- 
cured for it the strong attachment and veneration of the whole 
nation. 

North of the hunting grounds of the Sacs and Foxes, were those 
of the Sioux, a fierce and warlike nation, who often disputed pos- 
session with their rivals in savage and bloody warfare. The pos- 
sessions of these tribes were mostly located in Minnesota, but ex- 
tended over a portion of Xorthern and Western Iowa to the Mis- 
souri River. Their descent from the north upon the hunting 
grounds of Iowa frequently brought them into collision with the 
Sacs and Foxes; and after many a conflict and bloody struggle, a 
boundary line was established between them by the Government 
of the United States, in a treaty held at Prairie du Chien in 1825. 
But this, instead of settling the difficulties, caused them to quar- 
rel all the more, in consequence of alleged trespa'sses upon each 
other's side of the line. These contests were kept up and became 
so unrelenting that, in 1830, Government bought of the respective 
tribes of the Sacs and Foxes, and the Sioux, a strip of land twenty 
miles in width, on Ijtith sides of the line, and thus throwing them 
forty miles a part by creating between them a "neutral ground," 
commanded them to cease their hostilities. Both the Sacs and 
Foxes and the Sioux, however, were allowed to fish and hunt on 
the ground unmolested, provided they did not interfere with each 
other on the United States territory. The Sacs and Foxes and the 
Sioux were deadly enemies, and neither let an opportunity to pun- 
ish the other pass unimproved. 

In April, 1852, a fight occurred between the Musquaka band of 
Sacs and Foxes and a band of Sioux, about six miles above Al 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 21 

gona, in Kossuth County, on tlic west side of the Des, Moines 
River. The Sacs and Foxes were inider the leadership Ko-ko- 
wah, a su])ordinate eliief, and had gone up from their home in 
Tama C(>unty, by way of Clear Lake, to what was then the "neutral 
ground." At Clear Lake, Ko-ko-wah was informed that a party 
of Sioux were encamped on the west side of the East Fork of the 
Des Moines, and .he determined to attack them. With sixty of 
his warriors, he started and anived at a i)oint on the east side of 
the river, about a mile above the Sioux encam])ment, in the night, 
and concealed themselves in a grove, where they were able to dis- 
cover the position and strength of their hereditary foes. The 
next morning, after man}- of the Sioux braves had lelt their camp 
on hunting tours, the vindictive Sacs and Foxes crossed the river 
and suddenly attacked the camp. The conflict was desperate for a 
short time, but the advantage was with the assailants, and the 
Sioux Avere routed. Sixteen of them, including some of their 
women and children, were killed, and a boy 14 years old was cap- 
tured. One of the Musc[uakas was shot in the breast by a squaw 
as they were rushing into the Sioux's camp. He started to run 
away, when the same brave squaw S:;hot him through the body, at 
a distance of forty rods, and he fell dead. Three other Sac braves 
were killed. But few of the Sioux escaped. The victorious party 
hurriedly buried their own dead, leaving the dead Sioux above 
ground, and made their wa}- home, with their captive, with all 
possible ex]:)edition. 

riKE'S EXPEDITION. 

Very soon after the acquisition of Louisiana the United States 
Government adoi)tcd measures for the exploration of the new ter- 
ritory, having in view the concilation of the numerous tribes of 
Indians l)y whom it was possessed, and, also, the selection of 
proper sites for the esta])lishment of military posts and trading 
stations. Tlie Army of the West, (icn. James AVilkinson, com- 
manding, had its headquarters at St. Louis. From this post Cap- 
tains Lewis Clarke, with a sufficient force were detailed to ex- 
plore the unknown sources of the I\Iissouri and Lieut Zebulon M. 
Like to ascend to the head waters of the Mississi})i)i. Lieut. Pike, 
with one Sergeant, two Corporals and seventeen privates, left the 
military camp, near St. Louis, in a keel-bt)at, with four month's 
rations on the 9th day of August, LSOo. On the 20th of the 
same month, the expetlition arrived within the present limit of 
Iowa, at the foot of the Des Moines Rapids, where Pike met Wil- 
liam Ewing, who had just been ap])ointed Indian agent at thij< 
point, a French interpreter and four chiefs and lilteen Sac and 
Fox warriors. 

At the head of tlie ra})ids, where jNlontrose is now situated, 
Pike held a council with the Indians, in which he addressed them 
gubstantially as iollows: "Your great Father, tlie President of 



22 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

the United States, wished to be more intimately acquainted with 
the situation and wants of the different nations of red people in 
our newly acquired territory of Louisiana, and has ordered the 
General to send a number of his warriors in different direction to 
take them by the hand and such inquiries as might aflbrd the 
satisfaction required." At the close of the council he i)resented 
the red men with some knives, whisky and tobacco. 

Pursuing his way up the river, he arrived, on the 23d of August, 
at what is supposed, from his description, to be the site of the pres- 
ent city of Burlington, which he selected as the location of a mili- 
tary post. He describes the place as being "on a hill, about forty 
miles above the River de Moyne Rapids, on the west side of the 
river, in latitude al)out 41 degress' 21 minutes north. The channel 
of the river runs on that shore; the hill in front is about sixty feet 
perpendicular; nearly level on top; four hundred yards in the rear 
is a small prairie fit for gardening, and immediately under the hill 
is a limestone spring, sufficient for the consumption of a whole 
regiment." In addition to this description, which corresponds to 
Burlington, the spot is laid down on his map at a bend in the river 
a short distance below the mouth of the Henderson, which pours 
its waters into the Mississippi from Illinois. The fort was built at 
Fort Madison, but from the distance, latitude, description and map 
furnished by Pike, it could not ha-s'e been the place selected by 
him while all the circumstances corroborate the opinion that the 
place he selected was the spot where Burlington is now located, 
called by the early voyagers on the MississipjDi, "Flint Hills." 

On the 24th with one of his men, he went on shore on a hunt- 
ing expedition, and following a stream which they supposed to be 
a part of the ^Mississippi, they were led away from their course. 
Owing to the intense heat and tall grass, his two favorite dogs, 
which he had taken with him, became exhausted and he left them 
on the prairie, supposing that they would follow him as soon as 
they should get rested, and went on to overtake his boat. Reach- 
ing the river, he waited some time for his canine friends, but they 
did not come, and as he deemed it inexpedient to detain the boat 
longer, two of his men volunteered to go in pursuit of them, and 
he continued on his way up the river, expecting that the two men 
would soon overtake him. They lost their wa}^, however, and for 
six days were without food, excej^t a few morsels gathered from 
the stream and might have perished had they not accidentally met a 
trader from St. Louis, who induced two Indians to take them up, 
the river and they over took the boat at Dubuque. 

At Dubuque, Pike was cordially received by Julien Dubuque, a 
Frenchman, who held a mining claim under a grant from Spain. 
Dubuque had an old field piece and fired a salute in honor of the 
advent of the first Americans who had visited tliat part of the 
Territory. Dubuque, however, was not disposed to publish the 



HISTORY OF IOWA. ' 23 

wealth of his mines, and the young and apparently inquisitive 
officer could obtain but little information from him. 

After leaving this place, Pike pursued his way up the river, but 
as he passed beyond the limits of the present State of Iowa, a 
detailed history of his exploration on the upper water of the Mis- 
sissippi more jjroperly belongs to the history of another State. 

It is sufficient to say that on the site of Fort Snelling, Minne- 
sota, at the mouth of the Minnesota River, Pike held a council 
with the Sioux, Sei^tember 23, and obtained from them a grant of 
one hundred thousand acres of land. On the 8th of January, 1806, 
Pike arrived at a trading post belonging to the Northwest Com- 
pany, on Lake De Sable in latitude 47"^. At this time the then 
powerful Northwest Company carried on their immense opera- 
tions from Hudson's Bay to the St. Lawrence; up the river on 
both sides, along the Great Lakes to the head of I^ake Superior, 
thence to the sources of the Red River of the North, and we»t to 
the Rocky Mountains, embracing within the scope of their opera- 
tions the entire Territory of Iowa. After successfully accom- 
plishing his mission, and performing a valuable service to Iowa 
and the whole Northwest, Pike returned to St. Louis, arriving 
there on tha 30th day April, 1806. 

INDIAN WARS. 

The territory of Iowa, although it had been purchased by the 
United States, and was ostensibly in the possession of the Gov- 
ernment, was still occupied by the Indians, who claimed title to 
the soil by right of "ownership and possession. Before it could be 
open to settlement by the whites, it was indispensable that the 
Indian title should be extinguished, and the original owners re- 
moved. The accomplishment of this j)urpose required the expen- 
diture of large sums of money and blood, and for a long series of 
years the frontier was disturbed by Indian wars, terminated re- 
peatedly by treaty, only to be renewed by some act of oppres- 
sion on the part of the whites or some violation of treaty stipula- 
tion, 

As previously shown, at the time when the United States as- 
sumed the control of the country by virtue of the Louisiana pur- 
chase nearly the whole state was in possession of the Sacs and 
Foxes, a powerful and warlike nation, who were not disposed- to 
submit without a struggle to what they considered the encroach- 
ments of the pale faces. 

Among the most noted chiefs, and one whose restlessness and 
hatred of the Americans occasioned more trouble to the Govern- 
ment than any others of his tribe, was Black Hawk, who was born 
at the Sac village, on Rock river, in 1767. He was simply the 
chief of his own band of Sac warriors, but by his energy and am- 
bition he became the leading spirit of the united nation of Sacs 
and Foxes, and one of the prominent figures in the history of the 



24 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

country from 1803 until his death. In early manhood he attained 
some distinction as a fighting chief, having led camj^aigns against 
the Osages and other neighboring tribes. About the beginning 
of the present century he began to appear prominent in affairs on 
the Mississipi^i. Some historians have added to the statement 
"it does not appear that he was ever a great general, or- possessed 
any of the qualification of a successful leader." If this was so 
his life was a marvel. How any man who had none of the quali- 
fication of a leader became so prominent as such, as he did, indi- 
cates either that he had some ability, or that his cotemporaries, 
both Indian and Anglo-Saxon, had less than he. He is said to 
have been the victim of a narrow prejudice and bitter ill-will 
against the Americans" but the impartial historian must admit 
that if he was the enemy of the' Americans, it was certainly not 
without some reason. 

It will be remembered that Spain did not give up possession of 
the country to France on its cession to the latter power, in 1801, 
but retained possession of it, and, by the authority of France, 
transferred it to the United States, in 1804. Black Hawk and his 
band were in St. Louis at the time, and were invited to be present 
and witness the ceremonies of the transfer, but he refused the invi- 
tation, and it is l;)ut just to say that this refusal was caused proba- 
bly more from regret that the Indians were to be transfered from 
the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities than from any special 
hatred toward the Americans. In his life he says: "I found many 
sad and gloomy faces because, the United States were about to take 
possession of the town and country. Soon after the Americans 
came, I took my band and went to take leave of our Spanish father. 
The Americans came to see him also. Seeing them approach, we 
passed out of one door as thfey entered another, and immediately 
started in our canoes for our village, on Rock River, not liking the 
change any more than our friends appeared to at St. Louis 
On arriving at our village, we gave the news that strange people 
had arrived at St. Louis, and that we should never see our 
Spanish father again. The information made all our people 
sorry." 

On the 3d day of November, 1804, a treaty was concluded be- 
tween William Henry Harrison, than Governor of Indiana Terri- 
tory, on behalf of the United States, and five chiefs of the Sac and 
Fox nation, by which the latter, in consideration, of two thousand 
two hundred and thirty-four dollars' worth of goods then delivered, 
and a yearly annunity of one thousand dollars to be paid in goods at 
just cost, ceded to the United States all that laud on the east side 
of the Mississippi, extending from a point o])posite the Jefferson, 
in Missouri, to the Wisconsin River, embracing an area of over 
fifty-one millions of acres. 

To this treaty Black Hawk always objected and always refused 
to consider it binding upon his people. He asserted that the chiefs 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 2S 

or braves who made it had no authority to relinquish the title of 
the nation to any of the lands they held or occupied; and, more- 
over, that they had been sent to St. Louis on quite a different er- 
rand, namely, to get one of their people released, who had been 
imprisoned at St. Louis for killing a white man. 

The year following this treaty (1805), Lieutenant Zebulon M. 
Pike came up the river for the purpose of holding friendly coun- 
cils with the Indians and selecting sites for forts within the ter- 
ritory recently acquired from France by the United States. Lieu- 
tenant Pike seems to have been the tirst American whom Black 
Hawk ever met or had a personal interview with; and he was very 
much prepossessed in Pike's favor. He gives the following ac- 
count of his visit to Rock Island: 

"A boat came up the river with a young American chief and a 
small party of soldiers. We heard of them soon after they passed 
Salt River. Some of our young braves watched them every day, 
to see what sort of people he had on board. The boat at length 
arrived at Rock River, and the young chief came on shore with 
his interpreter, and made a speech and gave us some presents. We 
in turn presented them with meat and such other provisions as we 
had to spare. We were well pleased with the young chief. He 
gave us good advice, and said our American father would treat us 
well." 

The events which soon followed PIkc's expedition were the 
erection of Fort Edwards, at what is now Warsaw, Illinois, and Fort 
Madison, on the site of the present town oi that name, the latter 
being the first fort erected in Iowa. These movements occasioned 
great uneasiness among the Indians. When work was commenced 
on Fort Edwards, a delegation from their nation, headed by some 
of their chiefs, went down to see what the Americans were doing, 
and had an interview with the commander; after which they re- 
turned home apparently satisfied. In like manner, when Fort 
Madison was being erected, they sent down another delegation 
from a council of the nation held at Rock River. According to 
Black Hawk's account, the American chief told them that he was 
building a house for a trader who was coming to sell them goods 
cheap, and that the soldiers were coming to keep him company— 
a statement which Black Hawk says they distrusted at the time, 
believing that the fort was an encroachment upon their rights, and 
designed to aid in getting their lands away from them. 

It has been held by good American authorities, that the erection 
of Fort Madison at the point where it was located was a violation 
of the treaty of 1801. By the eleventh article of the treaty, the 
United States had a right to build a fort near the mouth of the 
Wisconsin River; by article six they had bound themselves "that 
if ail}' citizens of the United States or any otiier white persons 
should form a settlement upon their lands, such intruders should 
forthwith be removed." Probably the authorities of the United 



26 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

• States did not regard the established of military posts as coming, 
properly within the meaning of the term "settlement," as used in 
the treaty. At all events, they erected Fort Madison within the 
territory reserved to the Indians, who became very indignant. Not 
long after the fort was built, a party led by Black Hawk attempted 
its destruction. They sent spies to watch the movements of. the 
garrison, who ascertained that the soldiers were in the habit of 
marching out of the fort every morning and evening for parade, 
and the plan of the party was to conceal themselves near the fort, 
and attack and surprise them when they were outside. On the 
morning of the proposed day of attack, five soldiers came out and 
were fired upon by the Indians, two of them being killed. The 
Indians were too hasty in their movements, for the regular drill had 
not yet commenced. However, they kept up the attack for sev- 
eral days, attempting the old Fox strategy of setting fire to the 
fort with blazing arrows; but findinng their efforts unavailing they 
soon gave up and returned to Rock River. 

When war was declared between the United States and Great 
inBritian, 1812, Black Hawk and his band allied themselves with 
the British, partly because he was dazzled by their specious prom- 
ises, and more probably because they had been deceived by the 
Americans. Black Hawk himself declared that they were "forced 
into the war by being deceived." He narrates the circumstances 
as follows : "Several of the chiefs and head men of the Sacs and 
Foxes were called upon to go to Washington to see their Great 
Father. On their return, they related what iiad been said atid 
done. They said the Great Father wished them, in the event of a 
war taking place with England, not to interf<n-e on either side, but 
to remain neutral. He did not want our help, but wished us to 
hunt and support our families, and live in peace. He said that 
British traders would not be permitted to come on the Mississippi 
to furnish us with goods, bnt that we should be supplied with an 
American trat ler. _ Our chiefs then told him that the British trad- 
ers always gave them credit in the fall for guns, powder and goods, 
to enable us to hunt and clothe our families. He repeated that 
the traders at Fort Madison would have plenty of goods; that we 
should go there in the fall and he would supply us on credit, as 
the British traders had done." 

Black Hawk seems to have accepted this proposition, and he 
and his people were very much pleased. Acting in good faith, 
they fitted out for their winter's hunt, and went to Fort Madison 
in high spirits to receive from the trader their outfit of supplies. 
But, after waiting some time, they were told by the trader that 
he would not trust them. It was in vain they pleaded the promise 
of their Great Fnther at Washington. The trader was inexorable; 
and, disapointed and crestfallen, they turned sadly toward their 
own villiage. "Few of us," says Black Hawk, "slept that night; 
aU was gloom and discontent. In the morning a canoe was seen 



HISTORR OF IOWA. 27" 

ascending the river; it soon arrived, bearing an express, who 
brought intelligence that a British trader had landed at Rock 
Island, with two boats loaded with goods, and requested us to come 
up immediately, because he had good news for us, and a variety 
of presents. The express presented us with tobacco, pipes and 
wampum. The news ran through our camp like fire on a prairie. 
Our lodges were soon taken down, and all started for Rock Island. 
Here ended all hopes of our remaining at peace, having been 
forced into the war by being deceived. 

He joined the British, who flattered him, styled him "Gene ra 
Black Hawk," decked him with medals, excited his jealousies 
against the Americans, and armed his band; but he met with de- 
feat and disappointment, and soon abandoned the service and 
came home. 

With all his skill ann courage. Black Hawk was unable to lead 
all the Sacs and Foxes into hostilities to the United States. A 
portion of them, at the head of whom was Keokuk ("the Watch- 
ful Fox"), were disposed to abide by the treaty of 1804, and to 
cultivate friendly relations with the American people. Therefore, 
when Black Hawk and his band joined the fortunes of Great 
Britain, the rest of the nation remained neutral, and, for protection 
organized, with Keokuk for their chief. This divided the nation 
into the "War and Peace Party." 

Black Hawk says he was informed, after he had ganeto the war, 
that the nation, which had been reduced to so small a body of 
fighting men, were unable to defend themselves in case the Amer- 
icans should attack them, and liaving all the old men and women 
and children belonging to warriors who had joined the British on 
their hands to' provide for, a council was held, and it was agreed 
that Quash-qua-me (the Lance) and other chiefs, together Avith the 
old men, women and children, and such others as chose to accom- 
pany them, should go to St. Louis, and place themselves under 
the Anjerican chief stationed there. They accordingly went down 
and were received as the "friendly band" of the Sacs and Foxes, 
and were provided for and sent up the Missouri river. On Black 
Hawk's return from the Brstish army, he says Keokuk was intro- 
duced to him as the war chief of the braves then in the village. 
He inquired how he had become chief, and was informed that 
their S])ies had seen a large armed force going toward Peoria, and 
fears were entertained of an attack upon the village; whereupon a 
council was held, which concluded to leave the village and cross 
over to the west side of the Mississippi. 

Keokuk had been standing at the door of the lodge where the 
council was held, not being allowed to enter on account of never 
having killed an enemy, where he remained until Wa-co-me came 
out. Keokuk asked permission to speak in the council, which 
Wa-co-me obtained for him. Keokuk then addressed the chiefs; 
he remonstrated against the desertion of the village, their own. 



28 HISTORY OP IOWA. 

homes and the graves of their fathers, and offered to defend 
the village. The council consented that he should be their war 
chief. He marshaled his braves, sent out spies, and advanced on 
the trail leading to Peoria, but returned without seeing the enemy. 
The Americans did not disturb the village, and all were satisfied 
with the appointment of Keokuk. 

Keokux, like Black Hawk, was a descendant of the Sac branch 
of the nation, and Avas born on Rock river, in 1780. He was of 
a pacific disposition, but possessed the elements of true courage, 
and could fight, when occasion required, with a cool judgment and 
heroic energy. In his first battle he encountered and killed a 
Sioux, which placed him in the rank of warriors, and he was 
honored with a public feast, by his tribe, in commemoration of 
the event. 

Keokuk has been described as an orator, entitled to rank with 
the most gifted of his race. In person he was tall, and of portly 
bearing; in his public speeches he displayed a commanding atti- 
tude and graceful gestures; he spoke rapidly, but his enunciation 
was clear, distinct and forcible; he culled his figures from the 
stores of nature, and based his arguments on skillful logic. Un- 
fortunately for the reputation of Keokuk as an orator, among 
white people, he was never able to obtain an interpreter who could 
claim even a slight acquaintance with philosophy. With one ex- 
ception only, his interpreters were unacquainted with the ele- 
ments of their mother tongue. Of this serious hindrance to hia 
fame, Keokuk was well aware, and retained Frank Labershure, 
who had received a rudiniental education in the French and En- 
glish languages, until the latter broke down by dissipation and 
died. But during the meridian of his career among the white 
people, he was compelled to submit his speeches for translation to 
uneducated men, whose range of thought fell below the flights of 
a gifted mind, and the fine imagery drawn from nature was be- 
yond their power of re-production. He had sufficient knowledge 
of the English language to make him sensible of this bad render- 
ing of his thought, and often a feeling of mortification at the bun- 
gling efforts was depicted on his countenance while speaking. 
The proper place to form a correct estimate of his ability as an 
orator was in the Indian council, where he addressed himself ex- 
clusively to those who understonnd his language, and witness the 
electrical effect of his eloquence upon his audience. 

Keokuk seems to have possessed a more sober judgment, and to 
have had a more intelligent view of the great strength and re- 
sources of the United States, than his noted and restless cotem- 
porary. Black Hawk. He knew from the first that the reckless 
war which Black Hawk and his band had determined to carry on 
could result in nothing but defeat and disaster, and used every ar- 
gument against it. The large number of warriors whom he had 
dissuaded from following Black Hawk became, however, greatly 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 29 

excited with the war spirit after Stillman's defeat, and but for the 
signal tact displayed by Keokuk on that occasion, would have 
forced him to submit to their wishes in joining the rest of the war- 
riors in the field. A war-dance was held, and Keokuk took part 
in it, seeming to be moved with the current of the rising storm. 
When the dance was over, he called the council to prepare for 
war. He made a speech, in which he admitted the justice of their 
complaints against the Americans. To seek redress was a noble 
aspiration of their nature. The blood of their brethern had been 
shed by the white man, and the spirits of their braves, slain in 
battle, called loudly for vengeance. "I am your chief," he said, 
"and it is my duty to lead you to battle, if, after fully considering 
the matter, you are determined to go. But before you decide on 
taking this important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances 
of success. He then portrayed to them the great power of the 
United States, against whom they would have to contend, that 
their chances of success was utterly hopeless. "But," said he, 
"if you do determine to go upon the war-path, I will agree to 
lead you, on one condition, viz. : that before we go, we will kill 
all our old men and our wives and children, to save them from a 
lingering death of starvation, and that every one of us determine 
to leave our homes on the other side of the Mississippi." 

This was a strong but truthful picture of the prospect before 
them, and was presented in such a forcible light as to cool their 
ardor, and cause them to abandon the rash undertaking. 

But, during the war of 1832, it is now considered certain that 
small bands of Indians, from the west side of the Mississippi, 
made incursions into the white settlements, in the lead mining 
region, and committed .:ome murders and depredations. 

When peace was declared between the United States and Eng- 
land, Black Hawk was required to make peace with the former, 
and entered into a treaty at Portage des Sioux, September 14^ 
1815, but did not " touch the goose-quill to it until May 13, 1816, 
when he smoked the pipe of peace with the great white chief," at 
St. Louis. This treaty was a renewal of the treaty of 1804, but 
Black Hawk declared he had been deceived; that he did not know 
that by singing the treaty he was giving away his villiage. This 
weighed upon his mind, already soured by previous disappointment 
and the irresistible encroachments ol the whites; and when a few 
years later, he and his people were driven from their possessions 
by the military, he determined to return to the home of his fathers. 

It is also to be remarked that in 1816, by treaty with various 
tribes, the United States, relinquished to the Indians all the lands 
lying north of a line drawn from the southermost point of Lake 
Michigan west to the Mississippi, except a reservation five leagues 
square, on the Mississippi Kiver, supposed then to be sufficient to 
include all the mineral lands on an adjacent to Fever River, and 
one league square at the mouth of the Wisconsin River. 



30 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

The immedinte cause of the Indian outbreak in 1830 was the 
occupation of Black Hawk's villiage, on the Rock River, by the 
whites, during the absence of the chief and his braves on a hunt- 
ing expedition, on the west side of the Mississippi. When they 
returned they found their wigwams occupied by white families, 
and their own women and children were shelterless on the banks 
of the river. The Indians were indignant, and determined to re- 
possess their villiage at all hazards, and early in the spring of 1831 
recrossed the Missisiippi and menacingly took possession of their 
own cornfields and cabins. It may be well to remark here that it 
was expressly stipulated in the treaty of 1804, to which they at- 
tributed all their troubles, that the Indians should not be obliged 
to leave their lands until they were sold by the United States, and 
it does not appear that they occupied any lands other than those 
owned by the Government. If this was true, the Indians had good 
cause for indignation and complaint. But the whites, driven out 
in turn by the returning Indians, became so clamorous against 
what they termed the encroachments of the natives, that Gov. 
Reynolds, of Illinoise, ordered Gen. Gaines to Rock Island with a 
militay force to drive the Indians again from their homes to the 
west side of the Mississippi. Black Hawk says he did not intend 
to be provoked into Avar by anything less than the blood of some 
of his own people; in other words, that there would be no war 
unless it should be commenced by the pale faces. But it was said 
and probably thought by the military commanders along the fron- 
tier, that the" Indians intended to unite in a general war against 
the whites, from Rock River to the Mexican borders. But it does 
not appear that the hardy frontiersmen themselves had any fears, 
for their experience had been that, when well treated, their Indian 
neighbors were not dangerous. Black Hawk and his band had done 
no more than to attempt to repossess the old homes of which they had 
been deprived in their absence. No blood had been shed. Black 
Hawk had his chiefs sent a flag of truce, and a new treaty was 
made, by which Black Hawk and hss band agreed to remain for- 
ever on the Iowa side. 

On the 6th day of April, 1832, Black Hawk, and his en- 
tire band, with their women and children, again recrossed 
the Mississippi River in plain view of the garrison of Fort 
Armstrong, and went up the Rock River. Although this act 
was construed into an act of hostility by the military authorities, 
who declared that Black Hawk intended to recover his village, or 
the site where it stood, by force; yet it does not appear that he 
made any such attemi)t, nor did liis appearance create any special 
alarm among the settlers. They knew that the Indians never 
went on the war-path encumbered with the old men, their women 
and their children. 

The Galenian, printed in Galena, of May 2, 1832, says that 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 31 

Black Hawk was invited by the Prophet, and had taken possession 
of a tract about forty miles up Rock river; but that he did not re- 
main there long, but commenced his search up Rock river. Capt. 
W. B. Green, who served in Captain Stevenson's company of 
mounted rangers, says that "Black Hawk and his band crossed 
the river with no hostile intention, but that his band had had bad 
luck in hunting during the previous winter, were actually in a 
starving condition, and had come over to spend the summer with a 
friendly tribe on the headwaters of the Rock and Illinois rivers by 
invitation from their chief." Other old settlers, who all agree that 
Black Hawk had no idea of fighting, say that he came. back to the 
west side expecting to negotiate another treaty, and get a new 
supply of provisions. The most reasonable explanation of this 
movement, which resulted so disastrously to Black Hawk and his 
starving people, is that, during the fall and winter ot 1831-32, his 
people became greatly indebted to their favorite trader at Fort 
Armstrong (Rock Island), they had not been fortunate in hunting, 
and he was likely to lose heavily, as an Indian debt was outlawed 
in one year. If, therefore, the Indians c :)uld be induced to come 
over, and the fears of the military could be sufficiently aroused to 
pursue them, another treaty could be negotiated, and from the 
payments from the government the shrewd trader could get his 
pay. Just a week after Black Hawk crossed the river, on the 13th 
ol April, 1832, George Davenport wrote to Gen. Atkinson: "I am 
informed that the British band of Sac Indians are determined to 
make war on the frontier settlements. * * * 

From every information that I have received, I am of the opinion 
that the intention of the British band of Sac Indians is to commit 
depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier." And yet, from 
the 6th day of April, until after Stillinan's men commenced war 
by firing on the flag of truce from Black Hawk, no murders nor 
depredations were committed by the British band of Sac Indians. 
It is not the purpose of this sketch to detail the incidents of the 
Black Hawk war of 1832, as it pertains rather to the history of the 
State of Illinois. It is sufficient to say that, after the disgraceful 
affair at Stillman's Run, Black Hawk concluded that the whites 
retusing to treat with him, were determined to exterminate his 
people, determined to return to the Iowa side of the Mississippi. 
He could not return l)y the way he came, for the army was behind 
him, an army, too, that would sternly reluse to recognize the white 
flag of peace. His only course was to make his way northward and 
reach the Mississippi, if possible, before the troops could overtake 
him, and this he did; but, before he could get his women and 
children across the Wisconsin, he was overtaken, and a battle en- 
sued. Here, again, he sued for peace, and, through his trusty 
lieutenant, "the Prophet," the whites were plainly informed that 
the starving Indians did not wish to fight, but would return to 
the west side of the Mississippi, peaceably, if they could be per- 



32 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

niitterl to do so. No attention was paid to this second effort to ne 
gotiate peace, and, as soon as the supplies could be obtained the 
pursuit was resumed, the Hying Indians were overtaken again 
ei^lit miles before they reached the mouth of the Bad Axe, and 
the slaugnter (it should not be dignified by the name of battle) 
connnenced. Here, overcome by starvation and the victorious 
whites, his band was scattered, on the 2d day of August, 1832. 
Black HaAvk escaped, but was brought into camp at Prairie du 
Chien by tliree Winnebagoes. He was confined in Jefferson bar- 
racks until the spring of 1833, when he was sent to Washington, 
arriving tliefo April 22. On the 26tli of April they were takisn to 
Fortress Monroe, where they remained till the 4th of June, 1833, 
when orders were given for theui to be liberated and returned to 
their own country. By orders of the president he was brought 
back through tlio principal eastern cities. Cro\yds Hocked to see 
him all along the route, and he was very much flattered by the at- 
tention he received. He lived among his people on the Iowa 
river till that reservation was sold, in 183(3, when, with the rest of 
the Sacs and Foxes, he removed to the Des Moines reservation, 
where he remained till his death, which occurred on the 3d of Oc- 
tober, 1838. 

INDJAN PURCHASES, RESERVES AND TREATIES. 

At the close of the Black Hawk War, in 1832, a treaty was 
made, at a council held on the west bank of the Mississippi, where 
now stands the thriving city of Davenport, on grounds no.v occu- 
pied by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, railroad company 
on the 21st day of September, 1832. At this council, the United 
States were represented by Gen. Wintield Scott and Gov. Rey- 
nolds, of Illinois. Keokuk, Pash-a-pa-ho and some thirty other 
chiefs and warriors of the Sac and Fox nation were present. By 
this treaty, the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a strip 
of land on the eastern border of Iowa, fifty miles wide, from the 
northern boundary of Missiouri to the mouth of the Upper Iowa 
River, containing about six million acres. The western line of the 
purchase was parallel with the Mississippi. In consideration of 
this cession, the United States Government stipulated to pay an- 
nually to the confederated tribes, for thirty consecutive years, 
twenty thousand dollar in specie, and to pay the debts of the In- 
dians at Rock Island, which had been accumulating for seventeen 
years, and amounted to tifty thousand dollars, due to Davenport & 
Farnham, Indian traders. Tiu Government also generously do- 
nated to the Sac and Fox women and children,whose husbands and 
fathers had fallen in the Black Hawk war, thirty-tive beef cattle, 
twelve bushels of salt, thirty barrels of pork, fifty barrels of Hour 
and six thousand bushels of corn. 

This territory is known as the "Black Hawk Purchase." Al- 
though it was not the first portion of Iowa ceded to the United 



HISTOIIY OP IOWA. 33 

States by the Sacs and Foxes, it was the first opened to actual 
settlement by the tide of emigration that flowed across the Mis- 
sissippi as soon as the Indian title was extinguislied. The treaty 
was ratified February 13, 188H, and took ellect on the 1st of June 
ollowing, when the Indians quietly removed from the ceded ter- 
ritory, and this fertile and beautiful regi(^n was opened to white 
settlers. 

iiy the terms of the treaty, out of the lUack Hawk Purchase 
was reserved for the Sacs and Foxes 400 sijuare miles of land 
situated on the Iowa Kiver, and ii\cluding within its limits Keo- 
kuk's village, on the right bank of tliat river. This tract was 
known as "Keokuk's Reserve," and was occupied by the Indians 
until 1836, when, by a treaty made in Septendjer between them 
and Gov. Dotlge, of Wisconsin Territory, it was ceded to the 
United States. The council was held on the banks of the Mis- 
sissippi, above Davenport, and was the largest assemblage of the 
kind ever held by the Sacs and Foxes to treat for the sale of lands. 
About one thousand of their cliiefs and braves were present, and 
Keokuk was their leading spirit and principal speaker on the 
occasion. By the terms of the treaty, the Sacs and Foxes were re- 
moved to another reservation on the Des Moines River, where an 
agency was established for them at what is now the town of 
Agency City. 

Besides the Keokuk Reserve the government gave out of the 
Black Hawk Purchase to Antoine Le Clair, interp(!ter, in fee sim- 
ple, one section of land opposite Rock island, and another at the 
head of the first rapids above the island, on the Iowa side. This 
was the first land title granted by the United States to an individ- 
ual in Iowa. 

Soon after the removal of Sacs and Foxes to their Jievv reserva- 
tion on the Des Moines River, Gen. Joseph M. Street was transfered 
from the agency of the Winnebagoes, at Prairie du Chein, to estab- 
lish an agency among them. A farm was selected, on which, 
the necessary buildings erected, includmg a comfortable larm 
house for the agent and his family, at tlie expense iA' the 
Indian Fund. A salaried agent was employed to superintend 
the farm and dispose of the crops. Two mills were erected, one 
on Soap Creek, and ttie other on Sugar Creek. The latter was 
soon swept away by a Hood, but the former remained and did 
good service for many years. Connected with tlie agency were 
Joseph Smart and Juhn Goodell, interpreters. The latter was in- 
terperter for Plard Fish's band. Three of the Indian chiefs' Keo- 
kuk, W^apello and Appanoose, had each a large field improved, 
the two former on the right bank of the Des Moines, back from 
the river, in what is now Keokuk's Prairie, and the latter on the 
present site of the city of Ottumwa. A.nung the traders connected 
with tile agency were tlie Messrs. iiiwing, fioiu Ohio, and Phelps 



34 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

& Co., from Illinois, and al^o Mr. J. P. Eddy, who established his 
post at what is now the site of Eddy ville. 

The Indians at this agency became idle and listless in the 
absence of their natural and wonted excitements, and many of 
them plunged into dissipation. Keokuk himself bacame dis- 
sipated in the latter years of his life, and it has been reported that 
he died of delirium tremens after his removal with his tribe to 
Kansas. 

In May, 1848, most of the Indians were removed up the Des 
Moines River, aljove the temporary line of Red Rock, having ceded 
the remnant of their lands in Iowa to the United States on the 
21st of September, 1837, and on the 11th of October 1842. By 
the terms of the latter treaty, they lield possessisn of the "New 
Purchase" till the Autum of 184-5, when the most of them wore 
removed to their reservation in Kansas, the balance being removed 
in the Spring of 184G. 

1. Treaty with the Sioux.— Made July 19, 1815: ratified De- 
cember 16, 1815. This treaty was made at Portage des Sioux, be- 
tween the Sioux of Minnesota and Upper Iowa and the Uniied 
States, by William Clark and Ninian Edwards, Commissioners, 
and was merely a treaty of peace and triendship on the part of 
those Indians toward the United States at the close of the war of 
1812. 

2. Treaty with the Sacs. — A similar treaty of peace was made 
at Portage des Sioux, between the United States and the Sacs, by 
William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Choteau, on the loth 
of September, 1815, ami ratitied at the same date as the above. In. 
this, the treaty of 1804 was re-affirmed, and the Sacs here repre- 
sented promised for themselves and their bands to keep entirely 
seporate from the Sacs of Rock River, who, under Black Hawk, had 
joined the Britisli in the war just then closed. 

3. Treaty with the Foxes. — A separate treaty of peace was 
made with Koxes at Portage des Sioux by the same Commissioners 
on the 14th of Septembr, 1815, and ratitied the same as the above, 
wherein the Foxes re-affirmed the treaty at St. Louis, of Novem- 
ber 3, 1804, and agreed to deliver up all tlieir prisoners to the 
oliicer in command at Fort Clark now Peoria, Illinois. 

4. Treaty with the lowas. — A treaty of peace and mutual good 
will was made between th'-; United States and the Iowa tribe of 
Indians, at Portage des Sioux, by the same Commissioners as 
above, on the Kith of September 1815, at the close of the war 
withCireat Britain, and ratified at tlie same date as the othars. 

5. Treaty witli the Sacs at Rock River. — Made at St. Louis on 
the 13th of May, 1816, between the Unitad States and the Sacs of 
Rock River, by tiie Commissioners, William Clark, Ninian Ed- 
wards and Auguste Choteau, and ratified December 30, 1816. In 
this treaty, that of 1804 was re-established and confirmed by 
twenty-two chiefs and head men of the Sacs of Rock River, and 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 35 

Black Hawk himself attached to it his signature, or, ^as he said, 
"touched the goose quill." 

6. treaty of 1824.— On the 4th of August, 1824, a treaty was 
made between the United States and the Sacs and Foxes, 
in the city of Washington, by William Clark, Commissioner, 
wherein the Sac and Fox nation relinquished their title to all lands 
in Missouri, and that portion of the southeast corner of Iowa 
know as the "Hal-Breed Tract" was set off and reserved for the use 
of the half-breeds of the Sacs and Foxes, they holding title in the 
same manner as Indians. Ratified January 18, 1825. 

7. Treaty oi August 19, 1825. — At this date a treaty was made 
by William Clark and Lewis Cass, at Prairie du Cliien, betwen 
the United States and the Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, Menom- 
onees, Winnebagoes and a ])ortion of the Ottawas and Pottawatom- 
ies. In this treat}^ in order to make peace between the contend- 
ing tribes as to the limits of their respective hunting grounds in 
Iowa, it was agreed that the United States Government should 
run a boundary line between the Sioux, on the north, and the 
Sacs and Foxes, on south, as follows: 

Commencing at the mouth of the Upper Iowa River, on, the 
west bank of the Mississii)pi, and ascending said Iowa River to 
its west fork; thence up to the fork to its source; thence crossing 
the fork of Red Cedar River in a direct line to the second or upper 
fork of the Des Moines River; thence in a direct line to the lower 
fork of the Calumet River, and down that river to its junction with 
the Missouri Rivo-r. 

8. Treaty of 1830.— On the 15th of July, 1830, the confederate 
tribes of the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a strip of 
country lying south of the above line, twenty miles in width and 
extending along the line a forosaid from the Mississippi to the 
Des Moines River. The Sioux also, whose possessions were north 
of the line, ceded to the Government, in the same treaty, a like 
strip on the north side of the boundary. Thus the United States, 
at the ratification of this treaty, February 24, 1831, came into pos- 
session of a portion of Iowa fort}' miles wide, extending along the 
Clark and Cass line of 1825, from the Mississippi to the Des 
Moines River. This territory was known as the "Neutral Ground" 
and the tribes on either side of the line were allowed to fish and 
hunt on it unmolested till it was made a Winnebago reservation, 
and the Winnebagoes were removed to it in 1841. 

9. Treaty with the Sacs and Foxes and other Tribes. — At the 
same time of the above treaty respecting the "Neutral Ground" 
(July 15, 1830), the Sacs and Foxes, Western Sioux, Omalias, 
lowas and Missouris ceded to the United States a portion of the 
western slope of Iowa, the boundaries of which were defined as 
follows : 

Beginning at the upper fork of the Des Moines River, and 
|)assing the sources of the little Sioux and Floyd Rivers, to the 



36 HISTOEY OF IOWA. 

fork of the first creek that falls into the Big Sioux, or Calument, 
on the east side; thence down said creek and the Calumet River 
to the Missouri River; thence down said Missouri River to the 
Missouri State line above the Kansas; thence along said line to 
the northwest corner of said State; thence to the high lands be- 
tween the waters falling into the Missouri and Des Moines, pass- 
ing to said high lands along the dividing ridge between the forks 
of the Grand River; thence along said high lands or ridge separat- 
ing the waters of the Missouri from those of the Des Moines, to a 
point opposite the source of the Boyer River, and thence in a 
direct line to the upper fork of the Des Moines, the place of begin- 
ning. 

It was understood that the land,s ceded and relinquished by this 
treaty were to be assigned and allotted, under the direction of the 
President of the United States, to the tribes then living thereon, 
or to such other tribes as the President might locate thereon, for 
hunting and other purposes. In consideration of three tracts of 
land ceded in this treaty, the United States agreed to pay to the 
Sacs three thousand dollars; to the Foxes, three thousand dol- 
lars; to the Sioux two thousand dollars; to the Yankton and San- 
tee bands of Sioux, three thousands dollars; to the Omahas, two 
thousand five hundred dollars; and to the Otoes and Missouris, 
two thousand five hundred dollars — to be paid annually lor ten 
successive years. In addition to these annuities, the Government 
agreed to furnish some of the tribes with blacksmiths and agricul- 
tural implements to the amount of two hundred dollars, at the ex- 
pense of the United States, and to set apart three thousand dollars 
annually for the education of the children of these tribes. It does 
not appear that any tort was erected in this territory prior to the 
erection of Fort Atkinson on the Neutral Ground, in 1840-1. 

This treaty was made by William Clark, Superintendent of In- 
dian affairs, and Col. Willoughby Mor an, of the United States 
First Infantry, and came into effect bv proclamation, February 24, 
1881. 

SPANISH GRANTS. 

While the territory now embraced in the State of Iowa was un- 
der Spanish rule as a part of its province of Louisiana, certain 
claims to and grants of land were made by the Spanish authori- 
ties, with which, in addition to the extinguishment of Indian 
titles, the United States, had to deal. It is proper that these 
should be briefly reviewed: 

Dubuque. — On the 22d day of September, 1788, Julien Dubuque, 
a Frenchman, from Prairie du Chien, obtained from tlie Foxes a 
cession or lease of lands on the Mississippi River for mining pur- 
poses, on the site of the present city of Dubuque. Lead had been 
discovered here eight years before, in 1780, by the wife of Peosta 



HISTORY OF IOWA, 37 

Fox, a warrior, and Dubuque's claim embraced nearly all tHe lead 
bearing lands in that vicinity. He inmiediately took possession 
of his claim and commenced mining, at the same time making a 
settlement. The place became known as the "Spanish Miners," 
or, more commonly, "Dubuque's Lead Mines." 

In 1796, Dubuque filed a petition with Baron de Carondelet, 
the Spanish Goveruor of Louisiana, asking that the tract ceded to 
him by the Indians might be granted to him by patent from the 
Spanish Government. In this petition Dubuque rather indefin- 
itely set forth the boundaries of his claim as "about seven leagues 
along the Mississippi River, and three leagues in width from 
the river," intending to include, as is supposed, the river 
front between the Little Maquoketa and the Tete des Mertz 
Rivers, embracing more than twenty thousand acres. Caron- 
delet granted the prayer of the petition, and the grant was subse- 
quently confirmed by the Board of Land Commissioners of Louis- 
iana. 

In October, 1804, Dubuque transfered the larger part of his 
claim to Auguste Choteau, of St. Louis, and on the 17th of May, 
1805, he and Choteau jointly filed their claims with the Board of 
Commissioners. On the 20th of September, 1806, the Board de- 
cided in their favor, pronouncing the claim to be a regular Span- 
ish grant, made and compeleted prior to the 1st day of October, 
1800, only one member, J. B. C. Lucas, dissenting. 

Dubuque died March 24, 1810. The Indians, understanding that 
the claim of Dubuque under their former act of cession was only 
a permit to occupy the tract and work the mines during his life, 
and that at his death they reverted to them took possession and 
continued mining operations, and were sustained by the military 
authority of the United States, notwithstanding the decision of 
the Commissioners. When the Black Hawk purcdase was con- 
summated, the Dubuque claim thus held by the Indians was ab- 
sorbed by the United States, as the Sacs and Foxes made no reser- 
vation of it in the treaty of 1832. 

The heirs of Choteau, however, were not disposed to relinquish 
their claim without a struggle. Late in 1832, they employed an 
agent to look ofter their interests, and authorized him to lease the 
right to dig lead on the lands. The miners who commenced work 
under this agent were compelled by the military to abandon their 
operations, and one of the claimants, went to Galena to institute 
legal proceedings, but found no court of competent jurisdiction, 
although he did bring an action for the recovery of a quantity of 
lead dug at Dupuque, for the purpose of testing the title. Being 
unable to identify the lead, however, he was non-suited. 

By act of Congress, approved July 2, 1836, the town of Dubuque 
was surveyed and platted. After lots had been sold and occupied 
by the purchasers, Henry Choteau brought an action of ejectment 



38 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

against Patrick Malony, who held land in Dubuque under a patent 
from the United States, for the recovery of seven undivided eighth 
parts of the Dubuque claim, as purchased by Auguste Choteau in 
1804. The case was tried in the District Court of the United 
States for the District of Iowa, and was decided adversely to the 
plaintiff. The case was carried to the Supreme Court of the United 
States on a writ of error, when it was heard at tho December 
term, 1853, and the decision of the lower court was affirmed, the 
court holding that the permit from Carondelet was merely a lease, 
or permit to work tlie mines; that Dubuque asked, and the Gover- 
nor of Louisiana granted, nothing more than the "peaceable pos- 
session of certain lands obtained from the Indians; that Caron- 
dolet had no legal authority to make such a grant as claimed, and 
that, even if he had, this was but an "in choate and imperfected 
title." 

Girard. — In 1795, the Lietenant Governor of Upper Louisiana 
granted to Basil Giard five thousand eight hundred and sixty 
acres of land, in what is now Clayton County, known as the "Girard 
Tract." He occupiad the land during the time that Iowa passed 
from Spain to France, and from France to the United States, in 
consideration of which the Federal Government granted a patent 
of the same to Girrad in his own right. His heirs sold the whole 
tract to James H. Lockwood and Thomas P. Burnett, of Prairie du 
Chien, for three hundred dollars. 

Honori. — March 30, 1799, Zenon Trudeau, acting Lieutenant 
Governor of Upper Liousiana, granted to Louis Honori a tract of 
land on the site of the present town of Montrose, as follows: "It is 
permitted to Mr. Louis (Fesson) Honori, or Louis Honore Fes- 
Bon, to establish himself at the head of the rapids of the River 
Des Moines, and his establishment once funned, notice of it shall 
be given to the Governor General, i.i order to obtain for 
him a commission of a space sufficient to give value to such 
establishment, and at the same time to render it useful to the 
commerce of the peltries of this country, to watch the Indians 
and keep them in tiie lldelity which they owe to His Majesty." 

Honori took immediate possession of his claim, which he re- 
tained until 1805. While trading with the natives he became in- 
debted to Joseph Pu)bedoux, who obtained an execution on which 
the property was sold i.\lay 13, 1803, and was purchased by the cred- 
itor. In these proceedings tlie pro])erty was described as being 
"ahout six leaugues above the River Des Moines." Robedoux died 
soon after he purchased the proi)erty. Auguste Choteau, his ex- 
ecutor, disposed of the Honori Tract to Thomas F. Ueddeck, in 
April, 1805, up to which time Honori confined to occupy it. The 
grant, as made by the Spanish Government, was a league square, 
but only one mile square was confirmed by the United States. 
After the half-breeds sold their lands in which the Honori grant 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 41 

Court for the Territory of Iowa, on the 8th of May, 1841, and 
certified to by the Clerk on the 2d day of June of that year. Ed- 
ward Johnstone and Hugh T. lieid, then law partners at Fort 
Madison, filed the petition for the decree in behalf of the St. Louis 
claimants of half-breed lands. Francis S. Key, author of the Star 
Spangled Banner, who was then attorney for the New York Land 
Company, which held heavy interest in these lands, took a leading 
part in the measure, and drew up the document in which it was 
presented to the court. Judge Charles Mason, of Burlington, pre- 
sided. The plan of partition divided the tract into one hundred 
and one shares, and arranged that each claimant should draw his 
proportion by lot, and should abide the result, whatever it might 
be. The arrangement was entered into, the lots drawn, and the 
plat of the same filed in the Recorder's office, October 6, 1841. 
Upon this basis the titles to land in the Half-Breed Tract are now 
held. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The first perraament settlement by the whites within the limits 
of Iowa was made by Julien Dubuque, in 1788, when, with a small 
party of miners, he settled on the site of the city that now bears 
his name, where he lived until his death, in 1810. Louis Honori 
settled on the site of the present town of Montrose, probably in 
1799, and resided there until 1805, when his property passed into 
other hands. Of the Girard settlement, opposite Prairie du Chien, 
little is known, except that it was occupied by some parties prior 
to the commencement of the present century, and contained three 
cabins in 1805. Indian traders, although not strictly to be con- 
sidered settlers, had established themselves at various points at an 
an early date. A Mr. Johnson, Agent of the American Fur Com- 
pany, had a trading post below Burlington, where he carried on 
traffic with the Indians some time before the United States pos- 
sessed the country. In 1820, Le Moliese, a French trader, had a 
station at what is now Sandusky six miles above Keokuk, in Lee 
County. In 1829. Dr. Isaac Gallaud made a settlement on the 
Lower Rapids, at what is now Nashville. 

The first settlement in Lee county was made in 1820, by Dr. 
Samuel C. Muir, a surgeon in the United States army, who had 
been stationed at Fort Edwards, now Warsaw, 111., and who built 
a cabin where the city of Keokuk now stands. 

Messrs. Reynolds & Culver, who had leased Dr. Muir's claim at 
Keokuk, subsequently employed as their agent Mr, Moses Still- 
well, who arrived with his family in 1828, and took possession of 
Muir's cabin. His brothers-in-law, Amos and Valencourt Van 
Ansdal came with him and settled near. 

His daughter, Margaret Stillwell (afterward Mrs. Ford), was 
born in 1831, at the foot of the rapids, called by the Indians Puch- 
a-she-tuck, where Keokuk now stands. She was probably the first 
white American child born in Iowa. 



42 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

In 1831, Mr. Johnson, agent of the American Fur Company, 
who had a station at the foot of the rapids, removed to another lo- 
cation, and Dr. Muir having returned from Galena, he and Isaac 
R. Campbell took the place and buildings vacated by the Company, 
and carried on trade with the Indians and half-breeds, Campbell, 
who had first visited and traveled through the southern part of 
Iowa, in 1821, was an enterprising settler, and besides trading with 
the natives, carried on a farm and kept a tavern. 

Dr. Muir died of cholera in 1832. 

In 1830, James L. and Lucius H. Langworthy, brothers and na- 
tives of Vermont, visited the Territory for the purpose of working 
the lead mines at Dubuque. They had been engaged in lead min- 
ing at Galena, Illinois, the former as early as 1824. The lead 
mines in the Dubuque region were an object of great interest to 
the miners about Galena, ibr they were known to be rich in lead 
ore. To explore these mines and to obtain permission to work 
them was therefore eminently desirable. 

In 1829, James L. Langworthy resolved to visit the Dubuque 
mines. Crossing the Mississippi at a point now known as Dun- 
leith in a canoe, and swimming his horse by his side, he landed on 
the spot now known as Jones Street Levee. Before him spread 
out a beautiful prairie, on which the city of Dubuque now stands. 
Two miles south, at the mouth of Catfish Creek, was a village of 
Sacs and Foxes. Thither Mr. Langworthy proceeded, and was 
well received by the natives. He -endeavored to obtain permission 
from them to mine in their hills, but this they refused. He, how- 
ever, succeeded in gaining the confidence of the chief to such an 
extent as to be allowed to travel in the interior for three weeks and 
explore the country. He employed two young Indians as guides, 
and traversed in different directions the whole region lying between 
the Maquoketa and Turkey Kivers. He returned to the village, 
secured the good will of the Indians, and returning to Galena, 
formed plans for future operations, to be executed as soon as cir- 
cumstances would permit. 

In 1830, with his brother, Lucius H., and others, having ob- 
tained the consent of the Indians, Mr. Langworthy crossed the 
Mississippi and commenced mining in the vicinity around Du- 
buque. 

At this time, the lands were not in the actual possession of the 
United States. Although they had been purchased from France, 
the Indian title had not been extinguished, and these adventurous 
persons were beyond the limits of auy State or Territorial govern- 
ment. The first settlers were therefore obliged to be their own 
law-makers, and to agree to such regulations as the exigencies of 
the case demanded. The first act resembling civil legislation 
within the limits of the present State of Iowa was done hy the 
miners at this point., in June, 1830. They met on the bank of the 
river, by the side of an old cotton wood drift log, at what is now 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 43 

the Jones Street Levee, Dubuque, and elected u committee, con- 
sisting of J. L. Langworthy, H. F. Lander, James McPhetres, 
Samuel Scales, and E. M. Wren. This may be called the first 
Legislature in Iowa, the members of which gathered around that 
old Cottonwood log, and agreed to and reported the following, 
written by Mr. Langworthy, on a half-sheet of coarse, unruled paper, 
the old log being the writing desk: 

We, a Committe3, having been chosen to draft certain rules and regulations 
(laws) by which we, as miners, wdl be governed, and having duly considered 
the subject, do unanimously agree that we will be governed by the regula-: 
tions on th^ east side of the JMississippi Kiver,* with the following exceptions, 
to wit: 

Article I. That each and every man shall hold 200 yards square of ground 
by working said ground one day in six. 

Article II. We further agree that there shall be chosen, by the majority 
of the miners present, a person who shall hold this article, and who shall gi-ant 
letters of arbitration on application having been made, and that said letters of 
arbitration shall hi obligatory on the parties so applying. 

The report was accepted by the miners present, who elected Dr. 
Jarote, in accordance with Article 2. Here, then, we have in 1830, 
a primitive Legislature elected by the people, the law drafted by it 
being submitted to the people for approval, and under it Dr. Jarote 
was elected first Governor within the limits of the present State of 
Iowa. And it is to be said that the laws thus enacted were 
as promptly obeyed, and the acts of the executive officer thus 
elected as duly respected, as any have been since. 

The miners who had thus erected an independent government 
of their own on the west side of the Mississippi River, continued 
to work successfully for a long time, and the new settlement at- 
tracted considerable attention. But the west side of the Mississ- 
ippi belonged to the Sac and Fox Indians, and the Government in 
order to preserve peace on the frontier, as well as to protect the 
Indians in their rights under the treaty, ordered the settlers not 
only to stop mining, but to remove from the Indian territory. 
They were simply intruders. The execution of this order was en- 
trusted to .Col. Zachary Taylor, then in command of the military 
post at Prairie du Chien, who, early in July, sent an officer to the 
miners with orders to forbid settlement, and to command the 
miners to remove within ten days to the east side of the Missis- 
sippi, or they would be driven off by armed force. The miners, 
however; were reluctant about leaving the rich " leads" they had 
already discovered and opened, and were not disposed to obey the 
order to remove with any considerable degree of alacrity. In due 
time. Col. Taylor dispatched a detachment of troops to enforce his 
order. The miners, anticipating their arrival, had, excepting 
three, recrossed the river, and from the east bank saw the troops 
land on the western shore. The three who had linijered a little 



*Established by the Superintendent of U. S. Lead Mines at Fever River. 



44 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

too long were, however, permitted to make their escape unmolest- 
ed. From this time a military force was stationed at Uubuque to 
prevent the settlers from returning, until June, 1832. The In- 
dians returned, and were encouraged to operate the rich mines 
opened by the late white occupants. 

In June 1832, the troops were ordered to the east side to assist 
in the annihilation of the very Indians whose rights they had been 
protecting on the west side. Immediately after the close of the 
Black Hawk war, and the negotiations of the treaty in September, 
1832, by which the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States the 
tract known as the ''Black Hawk Purchase," the settlers, suppos- 
ing that now they had a right to re-enter the Territory, returned 
and took possession of their claims, built cabins, erected furnaces, 
and prepared large quantities of lead for market. Dubuque was 
becoming a noted place on the river-, but the prospects of the hardy 
and enterprising settlers and miners were again ruthlessly inter- 
fered with by the government, on the ground that the treaty with 
the Indians would not go into force until June 1, 1833, although 
they had withdrawn from the vicinity of the settlement. Col. 
Taylor was again ordered by the War Department to remove the 
miners, and in January, 1833, troops were again sent from Prairie 
du Chien to Dubuque for that purpose. This was a serious and 
perhaps unnecessary hardship imposed upon the settlers. They 
were compelled to abandon their cabins and homes in midwinter. 
It must be now said, simply that "red tape" should be respected. 
The purchase had been made, the treaty ratified, or was sure to be; 
the Indians had retired, and, after the lapse of nearly fifty years, 
no very satisfactory reason for this rigorous action of the Govern- 
ment can be given. 

But the orders had been given, and there was no alternative but 
to obey. Many of the settlers recrossed the river and did not re- 
turn ; a few, however, removed to an island near the east bank of 
the river, built rude cabins of poles, in which to store their lead 
until spring, when they could float the fruits of their labor to St. 
Louis for sale, and where they could remain until the treaty went 
into force, when they could return. Among these were James L. 
Langworthy, and his brother Lucius, who had on hand about three 
hundred thousand pounds of lead. 

Lieut. Covington, who had been placed in command at Dubuque 
by Col. Taylor, ordered some of the cabins of the settlers to be 
torn down, and wagons and other property to be destroyed. This 
wanton and inexcusable action on the part of a subordinate clothed 
with a little brief authority was sternly rebuked by Col. Taylor, 
and Covington was superseded by Lieut. Geo. Wilson, who pursued 
a just and friendly course with the pioneers, who were only waiting 
for the time when they could repossess their claims. 

June 1, 1833, the treaty formally went into effect, the troops 
were withdrawn, nnd the Langworthy brothers and a few others at 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 45 

once returned and resumed possession o£ their home claims and 
mineral prospects, and from this time the first permament settle- 
ment of this portion of Iowa must date. Mr. John P. Sheldon 
was appointed Superintendent of the mines by the Government, 
and a system of permits to miners and licenses to smelters was 
adopted, similar to that which had been in operation at Galena, 
since 1825, under Lieut. Martin Thomas and Capt, Thomas C. Le- 
gate. Substantially the primitive law enacted by the miners as- 
sembled around that old cottonwood drift log in 1830 was adopted 
and enforced by the United States Government, except that miners 
were required to sell their mineral to licensed smelters, and the 
smelter was required to give bonds for the payment of six per 
cent, of all lead manufactured to the Government. This was 
the same rule adopted in the United States mines on Fever River 
in Illinois, except that, until 1830, the Illinois miners were com- 
pelled to pay ten per cent tax. This tax upon the miners created 
much dissatisfaction among the miners on the west side as it had 
on the east side of- the Mississippi. They thought they had suf- 
fered hardships and privations enough in opening the way for 
civilization without being subjected to the imposition of an odious 
government tax upon their means of subsistence, when the Fed- 
eral Government could better aiford to aid than to extort from 
them. The measure soon became unpopular. It was difficult to 
collect the taxes, and the whole system was abolished in about ten 
years. 

During 1883, after the Indian title was fully extinguished, about 
five hundred people arrived at the mining district, about one hun- 
dred and fifty of them from Galena. 

In the same year Mr. Langworthy assisted in building the first 
school house in Iowa, and thus was formed the nucleus of the now 
populous and thriving city of Dubuque. Mr. Langworthy lived to 
see the naked prairie on which he first landed become the site of a 
city of fifteen thousand inhabitants, the small school house which 
he aided in constructing replaced by three substantial edifices, 
wherein two thousand children were being trained, churches 
erected in every part of the city, and railroads connecting the 
wilderness which he first explored with all the eastern world. He 
died suddenly on the 13th of March, 1865, while on atrip over the 
Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad, at Monticello, and the evening 
train brought news of his death and his remains. 

Lucius H. Langworthy, his brother, was one of the most worthy, 
gifted and influential of the old settlers of this section of Iowa. 
He died, greatly lamented by many friends, in June, 1865. 

The name Dubuque was given to the settlement by miners at a 
meeting held in 1834. 

In 1832, Captain James "White made a claim on the present site 
of Montrose. In 1834 a military post was established at this point 



46 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

and a garrison of cavalry was stationed here, under the command 
of Col. Stephen W. Kearney, The soldiers were removed from 
this post to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1837. 

During the same year, 1832, soon after the close of the Black 
Hawk war, Zachariah Hawkins, Benjamin Jennings, Aaron 
White, Augustiue Horton, Samuel Gooch, Daniel Thompson and 
Peter Williams made claims at Fort Madison. In 1883, these 
claims were purchased by John and Nathaniel Knapp, upon which, 
in 1835, they laid out the town. The next summer, lots were 
sold. The town was subsequently re-surveyed and platted by the 
United States Government. 

At the close of the Black Hawk War, parties who had been im- 
patiently looking across upon ''Flint Hills,^' row Burlington, came 
over from Illinois and made claims. The first was Samuel S. 
White, in the fall of 1832, who erected a cabin on the site of the 
city of Burlington. About the same time, David Tothero made 
a claim on the prairie about three miles back from from the river, 
at a place since known as the farm of Judge Morgan. In the 
winter of that year, they were driven off by the military from 
Rock Island, as intruders upon the rights of the Indians, and 
White's cabin was burnt by the soldiers. He retired to Illinois, 
where he spent the winter, and in the summer, as soon as the In- 
dicin title was extinguished, returned and rebuilt his cabin. 
White was joined by his brother-in-law, Doolitle, and they laid out 
the original town of Burlington, in 1834. 

All along the river borders of the Black Hawk Purchase settlers 
were flocking into Iowa. Immediately after the treaty with the 
Sacs and Foxes, in September, 1832, Col. George Davenport made 
the first claim on the spot where the thriving city of Davenport 
now stands. As early as 1827, Col. Davenport had established a 
flatboat ferry, which ran between the island and the main shore of 
Iowa, by which he carried on a trade with the Indians Avest of the 
Mississippi. In 1833, Capt. Benjamin W. Clark moved across from 
Illinois, and laid the foundation of the town of Buffalo, in Scott 
county, which was the first actual settlement within the limits of 
that county. Among other early settlers in this part of the Ter- 
ritory Avere Adrian H. Davenport, Col. John Sullivan, Mulligan 
and Franklin Easly, Capt. John Coleman, J. M. Camp, William 
White, H. W. Higgins, Cornelius Harrold, Richard Harrison, E. 
H. Shepherd and Dr. E. S. Barrows. 

The first settlers of Davenport were Antoine LeClaire, Col. 
George Davenport, Major Thomas Smith, Major William Gordon, 
Philip Hambaugh, Alexander W. McGregor, Levi. S. Colton, Capt. 
James May and others. Of Antoine LeClaire, as the representa- 
tive of the two races of men who, at this time occupied Iowa, Hon. 
C. C. Nourse, in his admirable Centennial address, says: "Antoine 
LeClaire was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, 1797. His father 
was French, his mother a granddaughter of a Pottawattamie chief. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 47 

111 1818 he acted as official interpreter to Col. Davenport, at Fort 
Armstrong (now Rock Island). He was well acquainted with a 
dozen Indian dialects, and was a man of strict integrity and great 
energy. In 1820 he married the granddaughter of a Sac chief. 
The Sac and Fox Indians reserved for him and his wife two sec- 
tions of land in the treaty of 1833, one at the town of LeClaire 
and one at Davenport. The Pottawattamies, in the treaty at 
Prairie du Chien, also reserved for him two sections of land, at the 
present site of Moline, III. He received the appointment of Post- 
master and Justice of the Peace in the Black Hawk Purchase, at 
an early day. In 1833 he bought for $100 a claim on the land 
upon which the original town of Davenpoit was surveyed and 
platted in 1836. In 1836 LeClaire built the hotel, known since, 
with its valuable addition, as the LeClaire House. He died Sep- 
tember 25, 1861." 

In Clayton county the first settlement was made in the Spring of 
1832, on Turkey River, by Robert Hatfield and William W. Way- 
man. No further settlements were made in this part of the State 
till the beginning of 1836. 

In that portion now known as Muscatine county, settlements 
were made in 1831, by Benjamin Nye, John Vanater and G. W. 
Kasey, who were the first settlers. E. E. Fay, William St. John, 
N. Fullington, H. Reece, Jona. Pettibone, R. P. Lowe, Stephen 
Whicher, Abijah Whiting, J. E. Fletcher, W. D. Abernethy and 
Alexis Smith were early settlers of Muscatine. 

During the summer of 1835, William Bennett and his family, 
from Galena, built the first cabin within the present limits of 
Delaware county, in some timber since known as Eads' Grove. 

The first postoffice in Iowa was established at Dubuque in 1833. 
Milo H, Prentice was appointed postmaster. 

The fi;rst Justice of the Peace was Antoine LeClaire, appointed 
in 1833, as "a very suitable person to adjust the difficulties be- 
tween the white settlers and the Indians still remaining there." 

The first Methodist Society in the Territory was formed at Du- 
buque on the 18th of May, 1831, and the first class meeting was 
held June 1st of that year. 

The first church bell brought into Iowa was in March, 1834. 

The first mass of the Roman Catholic Church in the Territory 
was celebrated at Dubuque, in the house of Patrick Quigley, in 
ihe fall of 1833. 

The first school-house in the Territory was erected by the Du- 
buque miners in 1833. 

The first Sabbath school was organized at Dubuque early in the 
Summer of 1834. 

The first woman who came to this part of the Territory with a 
Tiew to permanent residence, was Mrs. Noble F. Dean, in the Fall 
of 1832. 



48 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

The iirst family that lived in this part of Jowa was that of 
Hosea T. Camp, iu 1832. 

The iirst meeting house was built by the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, at Dubuque, iu 1834. 

The first newspa})er in Iowa was the Dubuque Visitor, issued 
May 11th, 1836. John King, afterward Judge King, was editor, 
and William C. Jones, printer. 

The pioneers of lowa^ as a class, where brave, hardy, intelligent 
and enterprising people. 

As early as 1824, a French trader named Hart had established a 
trading post, and built a cabin on the bluffs above the large spring 
now known as "Mynster Spring," within the limits of the pres- 
ent city of Council Bluffs, and had probably been there some time, 
as the post was known to the employes of the American Fur 
Company as Lacofc de Hart, or "Hart's Bluff." In 1827 an 
agent of the American Fur Company, Francis Guittar, with others, 
encamped in the timber at the foot of the bluffs, about on the 
present location of Broadway, and afterward settled there. In 
1839 a block house was built on the bluff in the east part of the 
city. The Pottawattamie Indians occupied this part of the State 
until 1846-7, when they relinquished the territory and removed to 
Kansas. Billy Caldwell was then principal chief. There were no 
white settlers in that part of the State, except Indian traders, 
until the arrival of the Mormons under the lead of Brigham 
Young. These people, on their way westward, halted for the 
Winter of 184G 7 on the west bank of the Missouri River, about 
five miles above Omaha, at a place now called Florence. Some of 
them had reached the eastern bank of the river the Spring before, 
in season to plant a crop. In the Spring of 1847, Young and a 
portion of the colony pursued their journey to Salt Lake, but a 
large portion of them returned to the Iowa side and settled mainly 
within the limits of Pottawattamie County. The principal settle- 
ment of this strange community was at a place called "Miller's 
Hollow," on Indian Creek, and afterward named Kanesville, in 
honor of Col. Kane, of Pennsylvania, who visited them soon after- 
ward. The Mormon settlement extended over the county and into 
neighboring counties, wherever timber and water furnished 
desirable locations. Orson Hyde, priest, lawyer and editor, was 
installed as President of the (Juorum of Twelve, and all that part 
of the State remained under Mormon control for several years. 
In 1840, they raised a battalion, numbering some five hundred 
men, for the Mexican war. In 1848 Hyde started a paper called 
the Frontier Guardian, at Kanesville. In 1849, after many of 
the faithful had left to join Brigham Young at Salt Lake, the 
Mormons in this section of Iowa numbered 6,552, and in 1850, 
7,828, but they were not all within the limits of Pottawattamie 
County. This county was organized in 1848, all the first officials 



HISTOKY OF IOWA, 49 

being Mormons. In 1852 the order was pronmlgated that all the 
true believers should gather together at Salt Lake. Gentiles 
flocked in, and in a lew years nearly all the settlers were gone. 

May 9, 1843, Captain James Allen, with a small detachment of 
troops on board the steamer lone, arrived at the present site of the 
capital of the Htate, Des Moines. The lone was the first steamer 
to ascend the Des Moines Uiver to this point. The troops and 
stores were landed at what is now the foot of Court avenue, Des 
Moines, and Capt. Allen returned in the steamer to Fort Sanford 
to arrange for bringing up more soldiers and supplies. In due 
time, they, too, arrived, and a fort was built near the mouth of 
Raccoon Fork, at i(s confluence with the Des Moines, and named 
Fort Des Moines. Soon after the arrival of the troops, n trading 
post was established on the east side of the river, by two noted 
Indian traders named Ewing, from Ohio. 

Among the first settlers in this part of Iowa were Benjamin 
Bryant, J. B. Scott, James Drake (gunsmith), John Sturtevant, 
Robert Kinzi*e, Alexander Turner, Peter Newcomer, and others. 

The Western States have been settled by many of the best and 
most enterprising men of the older States, and a large immigra- 
tion of the best blood of the Old World, who, removing to an 
arena of larger opportunies, in a more fertile soil and congenial 
climate, have developed a spirit and energy peculiarly Western. 
In no country on the globe have enterprises of all kinds been 
pushed forward with such rapidity, or has there been such indepen- 
dence and freedom of competition. Among those who have pio- 
neered the civilization of the West, and been the founders of great 
States, none have ranked higher in the scale of intelligence and 
moral worth than the pioneers of Iowa, who came to the territoiy 
when it was an Indian country, and through hardship, privation 
and suffering, laid the foundation of the populous and prosperous 
commonwealth which to-day dispenses its blessings to a million, 
and a half of people. From her first settlement and from the 
first organization as a territory to the present day, Iowa has had 
able men to manage her affairs, wise statemen to shape her destiny 
.ind frame her laws, and intelligent and impartial jurists to admin- 
ister justice to her citizens; her bar, pulpit and press have been 
able and widely influential; and in all the professions, arts, enter- 
prises and industries which go to make up a great and prosperous 
commonwealth, she has taken and holds a front rank among her 
sister States of the West, 

TERRITORIAL HISTORY. 

By act of Congress, approved October 31, 1803, the President of 
the United States was autliorized to take possession of the terri- 
tory included in the Lousiana purchase, and provided for a tem- 
porary government. By another act of the same session, approved 
March 20, 1804, the newly acquired country was divided, October 



50 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

1st, 1804, into the territory of Orleans, south of the thirty-third 
parallel of north latitude, and the district of Louisiana, which lat- 
ter was placed under the authority of the officers of Indian Territory, 

In 1802 the district of Louisiana was organized as a Territory, 
with a government of its own. In 1807 Iowa was included in the 
Territory of Illinois, and in 1812 in the Territory of Missouri. 
When Missouri was admitted as a State, March 2, 1821, ''Iowa," 
says Hon. C. C. Nourse, "was left a political orphan," until by 
act of Congress, approved June 28, 1834, the Black Hawk pur- 
chase having been made, all the territory west of the Mississippi 
and north of the northern boundary of Missouri, was made a part of 
Michigan Territory. Up to this time there had been no county 
or other organization in what is now the State of Iowa, althougli 
one or two Justices of the Peace had been appointed and a post- 
office was established at Dubuque in 1833. In September, 1834, 
however, the Territorial Legislature of Michigan created two coun- 
ties on the west side of the Mississippi River, viz.: Dubuque and 
Des Moines, separated by a line drawn westward from the foot of 
Rock Island. These counties were partially organized. John 
King was appointed Chief Justice of Dubuque County, and Isaac 
Leffler of Burlington, of Des Moines County. Two Associate 
Justices in each county were appointed by the Governor. 

On the first Monday in October, 1825, Gen. Geo. W. Jones, now 
a citizen of Dubuque, was elected a Delegate to Congress from this 
part of Michigan Territory. On the 20th of April, 1836, through 
the efforts of Gen. Jones, Congress passed a bill creating the Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin, which went into operation July 4, 1836, and 
Iowa was then included in 

THE TERRITORY OF WISCONSIN, 

of which Gen. Henry Dodge was appointed Governor; John S. 
Horner, Secretary of the Territory; Charles Dunn, Chief Justice; 
David Irwin and Wm. C. Frazt-r, Associate Justices. 

September 9, 1836, Gov. Dodge ordered the census of the new 
territory to be taken. This census resulted in showing a popula- 
tion of 10,531 in the counties of Dubuque and Des Moines. Un- 
der the apportionment, these two counties were entitled to six 
members of the Council and thirteen of the House of Representa- 
tives. The Governor issued his proclamation for an election to be 
held on the first Monday of October, 1836, on which day the fol- 
lowing members of the First Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin 
were elected from the two counties in the Black Hawk purchase: 

Dubuque County. — Council: John Fally, Thomas McKnight, 
Thomas McCarney. House: Loring Wheeler, Hardin Nowlan, 
Peter Hill Engle, Patrick Quigley, Hosea T. Camp. 

Des Moines Counti/. — Council: Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Joseph R. 
Teas, Arthur B. Inghram. House: Isaac Leffler, Thomas Blair, 
Warren L. Jenkins, John Box, George VV. Teas, Eli Reynolds, 
David R. Chance. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 51 

The first Legislature assembled at Belmont, in the present State 
of Wisconsin, on the 25th day of October, 1836, and was organized 
by electing Henry T. Baird President of the Council, and Peter 
Hill Engle, of Dubuque, Speaker of the House. It adjourned 
December 9, 1836. 

The second Legislature assembled at Burlington, November 10, 
1837. Adjourned January 20, 1838. The third session was at 
Burlington; commenced June 1st, and adjourned June 12, 1838. 

During the first session of Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, 
in 1836, the County of Des Moines was divided in Des Moines, 
Lee, Van Buren, Henry, Muscatine and Cook (the latter being sub- 
sequently changed to Scott) and defined their boundaries. During 
the second session, out of the territory embraced in Dubuque 
County, were created the counties of Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette, 
Delaware, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Clinton and Cedar, 
and their boundaries defined, but the most of them were not or- 
ganized until several years afterward, under the authority of the 
Territorial Legislature of Iowa. 

The question of a separate territorial organization for Iowa, 
which was then a part of Wisconsin Territory, began to be agitated 
early in the autumn of 1837. The wishes of the people found ex- 
pression in a convention held at Burlington on the 1st of Novem- 
ber, which memorialized Congress to organize a Territory west of 
the Mississippi, and to settle the boundary line between Wiscon- 
sin Territory and Missouri. The Territorial Legislature of Wiscon- 
sin, then in session at Burlington, joined in the petition. Gen. 
Geo. W. Jones, of Dubuque, then residing at Sinsinawa Mound, 
in what is now Wisconsin, was Delegate to Congress from Wis- 
consin Territory, and labored so earnestly and successfully, that 
"An act to divide the Territory of AVisconsin, and to establish the 
Territorial Government of Iowa,'' was approved June 12, 1838, to 
take effect and be in force on and after July 3, 1838. The new 
Territory embraced "all that part of the present Territory of Wis- 
consin which lies west of the Mississippi River, and west of a line 
drawn due north from the headwaters or sources of the Mississippi 
to the territorial line." The organic act provided for a Governor, 
whose term of office should be three years, and for a Secretary, 
Chief Justice, two Associate Justices, and Attorney and Marshal, 
who should serve four years, to be appointed by the President, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The act also pro- 
vided for the election, by the white male inhabitants, citizens of 
the United States, over twenty-one years of age, of a House of 
Representatives, consisting of twenty-six members, and a Coun- 
cil, to consist of thirteen members. It also appropriated $5,000 
for a public library, and $20,000 for the erection of public build- 
ings. 

President Van Buren appointed ex-Governor Robert Lucas, of 
Ohio, to be the first Governor of the new Territory. W^illiam B. 



52 HISTORY OF lOAVA. 

Conway, of Pittsburgh, was appointed Secretary of the Territory^ 
Charles Mason, of Burlington, Chief Justice, and Thomas S. Wil- 
son, of Dubuque, and Joseph Williams, of Pennsylvania, Asso- 
ciate Judges of the Supreme and District Courts; Mr. Van Allen, 
of New York, Attorney; Francis Gehon, of Dubuque, Marshal; 
Augustus C. Dodge, Register of the Land Office at Burlington, 
' and Thomas McKnight, Receiver of the Land Office at Dubuque, 
Mr. Van Allen, the District Attorney, died at Rockingham, soon 
after his appointment, and Col. Charles Weston was appointed to 
till his vacancy. Mr. Conway, the Secretary, also died at Burling- 
ton, during the second session of the Legislature, and James 
Clarke, editor of the (hizeite, was appointed to succetd him. 

Immediately after his arrival, Governor Lucas issued a proclama- 
tion for the election of members of the first Territorial Legisla- 
ture, to be held on the 10th of September, dividing the Territory 
into election districts for that purpose, and appointing the ll2th day 
of November for meeting of the Legislature to be elected, at 
Burlington, 

The first Territorial Legislature was elected in September, and 
assembled at Burlington on the r2th of November, and consisted 
of the following members: 

Council. — Jesse B. Brown, J. Keith, E. A. M. Swazy, Arthur In- 
gram, Robert Ralston, George Hepner, Jesse J. Payne, D, B. 
Hughes, James M, Clark, Charles Whittlesey, Jonathan W, Par- 
ker, Warner Lewis, Stephen Hempstead, 

Hotise.—AN iWiam Patterson, Hawkins Taylor, Calvin J. Price^ 
James Brierly, James Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel Parker, 
James AV, Grimes, George Temple, Van B. Delashmutt, Thomas 
Blair, George H. Beeler,* William G. Coop, William H. Wallace, 
Asbury B. Porter, John Frierson, William L. Toole, Levi Thorn- 
ton, S. C. Hastings, Robert G. Roberts, Laurel Summers,! Jabez 
A. Burchard, Jr., Chauncey Swan, Andrew Bankson, Thomas 
Cox and Hardin Nowlin. 

Notwithstanding a large majority of the members of both 
branches of the Legislature were Democrats, yet Gen. Jesse B. 
Browne (Whii?), of Lee County, was elected President of the 
Council, and Hon. William H. Wallace (Whig), of Henry County, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives — the former unani- 
mously and the latter with but little opposition. At that time 
national politics were little heeded by the people of the new Ter- 
ritory, but in 1840, during the Presidential campaign, party lines 
were strongly drawn. 



*Cyrus S. Jacobs, who was elected for Des Moines County, was killed in an 
unfortunate encounter at Burlington before the meeting of the Legislature, and 
Mr. Beeler was elected to fill the vacancy. 

fSamuel R. Nurray was returned as elected from Clinton County, but his seat 
was successfully contested by Burchard. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 53 

At the election iu September, 1838, for members of the Legis- 
lature, a Congressional Delegate was also elected. There were 
four candidates, viz.: William W. Chapman and David Kohrer, 
of Des Moines County; B. F. Wallace, of Henry County, and P. 
H. Engle, of Dubuque County. Chapman was elected, receiving 
a majority of thirty-six over Engle. 

The first session of the Iowa Territorial Legislature was a stormy 
and exciting one. By the organic law, the Governor was clothed 
with almost unlimited veto power. Governor Lucas seemed dis- 
posed to make free use of it, and the independent Hawkeyes could 
not quietly submit t(? arbitrary and absolute rule, and the result 
was an unpleasant controversy between the Executive and Legisla- 
tive departments. Congress, however, by act approved March 
3, 1839, amended the organic law by restricting the veto power of 
the Governor to the two-thirds rule, and took from him the power 
to appoint sheriffs and Magistrates. ' 

Among the first important matters demanding attention was the 
location of the seat of government and provision for the erection 
of public buildings, for which Congress had appropriated $20,000. 
Governor Lucas, in his message, had recommended the appoint- 
ment of Commissioners, with a view to making a central location. 
The extent of the future State of Iowa was not known or thought 
of. Only on a strip of land fifty miles wide, bordering on the 
Mississippi River, was the Indian title extinguished, and a central 
location meant some central point in the Black Hawk Purchase. 
The friends of a central location supported the Governor's sug- 
gestion. The southern members were divided between Burlington 
and Mount Pleasant, but finally united on the latter as the proper 
location for the seat of government. The central and southern 
parties were very nearly equal, and, in consequence, much excite- 
ment prevailed. The central party at last triumphed, and on the 
21st day of January, 1839, an act was passed, appointing Chaun- 
cey Swan, of Dubuque County; John Ronalds, of Louisa County, 
and Robert Ralston, of Des Moines County, Commissioners, to se- 
lect a site for a permament seat of Government within the limits 
of Johnson County. 

Johnson County had been created by act of the Territorial Leg- 
islature of Wisconsin, approved December 21, 1837, and organized 
by act passed at the special session at Burlington in June, 1838, 
the organization to date from July 4th, following. Napoleon, on 
the Iowa River, a few miles below the future Iowa City, was des- 
ignated as the county seat, temporarily. 

Then there existed good reason for locating the capital in the 
county. The Territory of Iowa was bounded on the north by the 
British Possessions; east, by the Mississippi River to its source; 
thence by a line drawn due north to the northern boundary of the 
United States; south, by the State of Missouri, and west, by the 
Missouri and White Earth Rivers. But this immense territory 



54 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

was ill undisputed possession of the Indiars, except ii strip on the 
Mississippi known as the Black Hawk Purchase. Johnson County 
was, from north to south, in the geographical center of this pur- 
chase, and as near the east and west geographical center of the 
future State of Iowa as could then be made, as the boundar}"^ line 
between the lands of the United States and the Indians, estab- 
lished by the treaty of October 21, 1837, was immediately west of 
tho county limits. 

The Commissioners, after selecting the site, were directed to lay 
out 640 acres into a town, to be called Iowa City, and to proceed to 
sell lots and erect public buildings thereon, Congress having 
granted a section of land to be selected by the Territory for this 
purpose. The Commissioners, met at Napoleon, Johnson County, 
May 1, 1839, selected for a site Section 10, in Township 79 North 
of Range 6, West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and immedi- 
ately surveyed it and laid off the town. The first sale of lots took 
place August 16, 1339. The site selected for the public buildings 
was a little west of the geographical center of the section, where 
a square of ten acres on the elevated grounds overlooking the river 
was reserved for the purpose. The capitol was located in the center 
of this square. The second Territorial Legislature, which assem- 
bled in November, 1839, passed an act requiriing the Commission- 
ers to adopt such plan for the building that the aggregate cost 
when complete, should not exceed |51,000; and if they had already 
adopted apian involving a greater expenditure, they were directed 
to abandon it. Plans for the building were designed and drawn 
by Mr. John F. Rague, of Springfield, 111., and on the 4th day of 
July, 1840, the corner stone of the edifice was laid with appropri- 
ate ceremonies. Samuel C. Trowbridge was Marshal of the day, 
and Gov. Lucas delivered the address on that occasion. 

When the Legislature assembled at Burlington in special session, 
July 13, 1840, Gov. Lucas announced that on the 4th of that 
month lie had visited Iowa City, and found the basement of the 
capitol nearly completed. A bill authorizing a loan of ^20,000 
for the building was passed, January 15, 1841, the unsold lots of 
Iowa City being the security offered, but only $5,500 was obtained 
under the act. 

THE BOUNDARY QUESTION. 

The boundary line between the Territory of Iowa and the State 
of Missouri was a difficult question to settle in 1838, in conse- 
quence of claims arising from taxes and titles, and at one time 
civil war was imminent. In defining the boundaries of the coun- 
ties bordering on Missouri, the Iowa authorities had fixed a line 
that has since been established as the boundary between Iowa and 
Missouri. The Constitution of Missouri defines her northern 
boundary to be the parallel of the latitude which passes through 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 55 

the rapids o£ the Des Moines River. The lower rapids of the 
Mississippi immediately above the mouth of the Des Moines River 
had always been known as the Des Moines Ra])ids, or "the rapids 
of the Des Moines River." The Missourians (evidently not well 
versed in history or geography) insisted on running the northern 
boundary line from the rapids in the Des Moines River, just below 
Keosauqua, thus taking from Iowa a strip of territory eight or ten 
miles wide. Assuming this as her northern boundary line, Mis- 
souri attempted to exercise jurisdiction over the disputed territory 
by assessing taxes, and sending her Sheriffs to collect them by dis- 
training the personal property of the settlers. The lowans, how- 
ever, were not disposed to submit, and the Missouri ofiicials were 
arrested by the Sheriffs of Davis and Van Buren Counties and 
confined in jail. Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, called out his militia to 
enforce the claim and sustain the officers of Missouri. Gov. Lucas 
called out the militia of Iowa, and both parties made active prep- 
arations for war. In Iowa, about 1,200 men were enlisted, and 
500 were actually armed and encamped in Van Buren County, 
ready to defend the integrity of the Territory. Subsequently, 
Gen. A. C. Dodge, of Burlington, Gen. Churchman, of Dubuque, 
and Dr. Clark, of Fort Madison, were sent to Missouri as envoys 
plenipotentiary, to effect, if possible, a peacable adjustment or the 
difficulty. Upon their arrival, they found that the County Com- 
missioners of Clarke County, Missouri, had rescinded their order 
for the collection of the taxes, and that Gov. Boggs had dispatched 
messengers to the Governor of Iowa proposing to submit an 
agreed case to the Supreme Court of the United States for the 
final settlement of the boundary question. This proposition was 
declined, but afterward Congress authorized a suit to settle the 
controversy, which was instituted, and which resulted in a judg- 
ment for Iowa. Under this decision, William G. Miner, of Mis- 
soui-i, and Henry B. Hendershott were appointed Commissioners 
to survey and establish the boundary. Mr. Nourse remarks that 
"the expenses of the war on the jiart of loAva were never paid, 
either by the United States or the Territorial Government. The 
patriots who furnished supplies to the troops had to bear the cost 
and charges of the struggle." 

The first legislative assembly laid the broad foundation of civil 
equality, on which has been constructed one of the most liberal 
governments in in the Union. Its first act was to recognize the 
equality of woman with man before the law, by providing that 
"no action commenced by a single woman, who intermarries 
during the pendency thereof, shall abate on account of such mar- 
riage. ' This principle has been adopted by all subsequent legisla- 
tion in Iowa, and to-day woman has full and equal civil rights with 
man, except only the right of the ballot. 

Religious toleration was also secured to all, personal liberty 
strictly guarded, the rights and privileges of citizenship extended 



56 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

to all white persons, and the purity of elections secured by heavy 
penalties against bribery and corruption. The judiciary power was 
vested in a Supreme Court, District Court Probate Court, and 
Justices of the Peace. Real estate was made divisible by will, and 
intestate property divided equitably among heirs. Murder was 
made punishable by death, and proportionate penalties fixed for 
lesser crimes. A system of free schools, open for every class of 
white citizens, was established. Provision was made for a system 
of roads and highways. Thus, under the territonal organization, 
the country began to emerge from a savage wilderness, and take 
on the forms of civil government. 

By act of Congress of June 12. 1838, the lands which had been 
purchased of the Indians were brought into market, and land 
offices opened in Dubuque and Burlington. Congress provided for 
military roads and bridges, which greatly aided the settlers, who 
were now coming in by thousands, to make their homes on the 
fertile prairies of Iowa — "The Beautiful Land." The fame of 
the country had spread far and wide; even before the Indian title 
was extinguished, many were crowding the borders, impatient to 
cross over and stake out their claims on the choicest spots they 
cou^ find in the new Territory. As soon as the country was open 
for settlement, the borders, the Black Hawk Purchase, all along the 
Mississippi, and up the principal rivers and streams, and out over 
the broad rolling prairies, began to be thronged with eager land 
hunters and immigrants, seeking homes in Iowa. It was a sight 
to delight the eyes of all comers from every land — its noble 
streams, beautiful and picturesque hills and valleys, broad and fer- 
tile prairies extending as far as the eye could reach, with a soil 
surpassing in richness anything which they had ever seen. It is 
not to be wondered at that immigration into Iowa was rapid, and 
that within less than a decade from the organization of the Ter- 
ritory it contained a hundred and fifty thousand people. 

As rapidly as the Indian titles were extinguished and the origi- 
nal owners removed, the resistless tide of emigration flowed west- 
ward. The following extract from Judge Nourse's Centennial 
Address shows how the emigrants gathered on the Indian bound- 
ary, ready for the removal of the barrier: 

In obedience to our progressive and aggressive spirit, the Government of the 
United States made another treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians, on the 11th 
day of August, 1842, for the remaining portion of their land in Iowa. The 
treaty provided that the Indians should retain possession of all the lands thus 
ceded until May 1, 1843, and should occupy that portion of the ceded territory 
west of a line running north and south through Redrock, until October 11, 
1845. These tribes, at this time, had their principal village at Ot-tum-wa-no: 
now called Ottumwa. As soon as it became known that the treaty had been con- 
cluded, there was a rush of immigration to Iowa, and a great number of tem- 
porary settlements were made near the Indian boundary, waiting for the 1st day 
of May. As the day approached, hundreds of families encamped along the line, 
and their tents and wagons ga^e the scene the appearance of a military expe- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 57 

dition. Th3 country beyond had been tliorouglily explored, but the United 
States niihtary authorities had prevented any settlement, or even the making 
out of claims by any monuments whatever. 

To aid tliem in making out their claims when the hour should arrive, the set- 
tlers had placed piles of dry wood on the rising ground, at convenient distances, 
and a short time before twelve o'clock on the night of the 30th of April, these 
were lighted, and when the midnight hour an-ived it was anounced by the dis- 
charge of firearms. The night was dark, but this army of occupation pressed 
forward, torch in hand, with axe and hatchet, blazing lines with all manner of 
curves and angles. When daylight came and revealed the confusion of these 
wonderful surveys, numerous disputes arose, settled generally by compromise, 
but sometimes by violence. Between midnight of the 30th of Apiil and sun- 
down of the 1st of May, over one thousand families had settled on their new 
purchase. 

While this seen 3 was transpiring, the retreating Indians were enacting one 
more impressive and melancholy. The winter of 1842-43 was one of unusual 
severity, and the Indian prophet, who had disapproved of the treaty, attributed 
the severity of the winter to the anger of the Great Spirit, because they had sold 
their country. Many religious rites were performed to atone for the crime. 
When the time for leaving Ot-tum-wa-no arrived, a solemn silence pervaded the 
Indian camp, and the faces of their stoutest men were bathed in tears; and when 
their cavalcade was put in motion, toward the setting sun , there wa s a sponta- 
neous outburst of frantic grief from the entire procession. 

The Indians remained the appointed time beyond the line running north and 
south through Redrock. The Government established a trading post and mili- 
tary encampment at the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River, then and for 
many years known as Fort Des Moines. Here the red men lingered until the 
11th of October, 1845, when the same scene that we have before described was 
re-enacted, and the wave of immigration swept over the remainder of the "New 
Purchase." The lands thus occupied andclaimsd 1 y the settlers still belonged 
in fee to the General Government. The surveys were not completed until some 
time after the Indian title was extinguished. After their survey, the lands 
were publicly proclaimed or advertised for sale at public auction. Under the 
laws of the United States, a pre-emption or exclusive right to purchase pubUc 
lands could not be acquired until after the lands had thus been publicly offered 
and not sold for want of bidders. Then, and not until then, an occupant mak- 
ing improvements in good faith might acquire a right over others to enter the 
land at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre. The "claim laws" were un- 
known to the United States statutes. They originated in the "eternal fitness 
of things," and were enforced, probably, as belonging to that class of natural 
rights not enumerated in the constitution, and not impaired or disparaged by 
its enumeration. 

The settlers organized in every settlement prior to the public land sales, ap- 
pointed officers, and adopted their own rules and regulations. Each man's 
claim was duly ascertained and recorded by the Secretary. It was the duty of 
all to attend the sales. The Secretary bid oft' the lands of each settler at $1.25 
per acre. The others were there to see, first, that he did his duty and bid in the 
land, and, secondly, to see that no one else bid. This, of courss, sometimes led 
to trouble, but it saved the excitement of competition, and gave a formality and 
degree of order and regularity to the proceedings they would not othei-wise have 
attained. As far as practicable, the Territorial Legislature recognized the 
vahdity of these "claims" upon the publiclands, and in 1839 passed an act 
legalizing their sale and malang their transfer a valid consideration to support a 
promise to pay for the same. (Acts of 1843, p. 456.) The Supreme Territorial 
Court held this law to be valid. (See Hill v. Smith, 1st Morris Rep, 70.) The 
opinion not only contains a decision of the question involved, but also contains 
much valuable erudition upon that "spirit of Anglo-Saxon liberty" which the 
Iowa settlers unquestionably inherited in a direct line of descent from the said 
"Anglo-Saxons." But the early settler was not always able to pay even this 
doUar and twenty-five cents per acre for his land. 



58 HISTOKY OF IOWA. 

Mauy of the settlers had nothing to begin with, save their 
hands, health and courage and their family jewels, ''the pledges 
of love," and the "consumers of bread." It was not so easy to 
accummulate money in the early days of the State, and the "beau- 
tiful prairies," the "noble streams," and all that sort of poetic 
imagery, did not prevent the early settlers from becoming dis- 
couraged. 

An old settler, in speaking of the privations and trials of those 
early days, says: 

Well do the "old settlers" of Iowa remember the days from the first settle- 
ment to 1840. Those were days of sadness and distress. The endearments' of 
home in another land had baen broken up; and all that was hallowed on earth, 
the home of childhood, and the scenas of youth, were severed; and we sat by 
the gentle waters of our noble river,' and, often "hung our harps on the wil- 
lows." 

Another, from another part of the State, testifies: 
There was no such thing a.s getting money for any kind of labo) . I laid brick 
at $3.00 per thousand, and took my pay in anything I could eat or wear. I 
built the first Methodist Church at Keokuk, 42x60 feet, of brick, for $600, and 
took my pay in a subscription paper, part of which I never collected, and upon 
which I only received $50 00 in money. Wheat was hauled 100 miles from the 
interior, and sold for '61% cents per bushel. 

Another old settler, in speaking of a later period, 1843, says: 
Land and everything had gone down in value to almost nominal prices. Con« 
and oats could be bought for six or ten cents a bushel; pork, $1.00 per hundred, 
and the best horse a man could raise sold for $50.00. Nearly all were in debt, 
and the SheritF and Constable, with legal processes, were common visitors at 
almost every man's door. These were indeed "the times that tried men's 
souls." 

"A few," says Mr. Nourse, "who were not equal to the trial, re- 
turned to their old Iiomes, but such as had courage and faith to be 
the worthy founders of a great State remained, to more than 
realize the fruition of their hopes, and the reward of their self- 
denial." 

Oe Monday, December 0, 1841, the fourth Legislative Assembly 
met, at the new capital, Iowa City, but the capitol building could 
not be used, and the Legislature occupied a temporary frame house, 
that had been erected for that purpose, during the session of 
1841-2. At this session, the Superintendent of Public Buildings 
(who, with the Territorial Agent, had superseded the Commis- 
sioners first appointed), estimated the expense of completing the 
building at $33,330, and that rooms for the use of the Legislature 
could be completed for $15,600. 

During 1842, the Superintendent commenced obtaining stone 
from a new quarry, about ten miles northeast of the city. This is 
now known as the "Old Captain Quarry," and contains, it is 
thought, an immense quantity of exellent building stone. Here all 
the stone for completing the building was obtained, and it was so 
far completed that on the 5th day of December, 1842, the Legis- 
lature assembled in the new capitol. At this session, the Super- 
intendent estimated that it would cost $39,143 to finish the build- 



HISTOKY OF IOWA. 59 

ing. This was nearly $6,000 higher than the estimate of the pre- 
vious year, notwithstanding a large sum had been expended in 
the meantime. This rather discouraging discrepancy was ac- 
counted for by the fact that the officers in charge of the work were 
constantly short of funds. Except the Congressional appropria- 
tion of 120,000 and the loan of $5,500, obtained from the Miners' 
Bank, of Dubuque, all the funds for the prosecution of the work 
were derived from the sale of the city lots (which did not sell 
very rapidly), from the certificates of indebtedness, and from scrip, 
based upon unsold lots, which was to be received in payment for 
such when they were sold. At one time the Superintendent 
made a requisition for bills of iron and glass, which could not be 
obtained nearer than St. Louis. To meet this, the Agent sold 
some lots for a draft, payable at Pittsburgh, Pa., for which he was 
compelled to pay twenty-five per cent, exchange. This draft, 
amounting to $507, that officer reported to be more than one-half 
the cash actually handled by him during the entire season, when 
the disbursement amounted to very nearly $24,000. 

With such uncertainty it could not be expected that estimates 
could be very accurate. With all these disadvantages, however, 
the work appears to have been prudently prosecuted, and as rapid- 
ly as circumstances would permit. 

Iowa remained a territory from 1838 to 1846, during which the 
office of Governor was held by Robert Lucas, John Chambers and 
James Clark. 

STATE ORGANIZATION. 

By an act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved Feb- 
ruary 12, 1844, the question of the formation of a State Constitu- 
tion and providing for the election of delegates to a convention to 
he convened for that purpose was submitted to the people, to be 
voted upon at their township elections in April following. The 
vote was largely in favor of the measure, and the delegates elected 
assembled in convention at Iowa city on the 7th of October, 1844. 
On the first day of November following the convention completed 
its work and adopted the first State constitution. 

The President of the convention, Hon. Shepherd Leffler, was in- 
structed to transmit a certified copy of this constitution to the 
delegate in Congress, to be by him submitted to that body at the 
earliest practicable day. It was also provided that it should be 
submitted, together with any conditions or changes that might be 
made by Congress, to the people of the Territory for their approval 
or rejection, at the township election in April, 1845. 

The boundaries of the State, as defined by the constitution, 
were as follows: 

Beginning in the middle of the channel of the Mississippi river, opposite 
mouth of the Des Moines river, thence up the said river Des Moines, in the 
middle of the main channel thereot, to a point where it is intersected by the 



60 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

old Indian boundary line, or line run by John C. Sullivan in the year 1816; 
thence westwardly along said line to the "old" northwest corner of Missouri; 
thence due west to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; 
thence up in the middle of the main channel of the river last mentioned to the 
mouth of the Sioux or Calumet river; thence m a direct line to the middle of 
the main channel of tne St. Peters river, where the Watonwan river — according 
to Nicollet's map — enters the same; thence down the middle of the main chan- 
nel of said river to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river; 
thence doAvn the middle of the main channel of said river to the place of be- 
ginning. 

These boundaries were rejected by Congress, but by act approved 
March 3, 1845, a State called Iowa was admitted into the Union, 
provided the people adopted the act, bounded as follows: 

Beginning at the mouth of the Des Moines river, at the middle of the Mis- 
sissippi , thence by the middle of the channel of that river to a parallel of lati- 
tude passing through the mouth of the Mankato or Blue Earth river; thence 
west, along said parallel of latitude to a point where it is intersected by a me- 
ridian line seventeen degrees and thirty minutes west of the meridian of Wash- 
ington City; thence due south to the northern boundary line of the State of 
Missouri; thence easterly following that boundary line to the point at which 
the same intersects the Des Moines river; thence by the middle of the channel 
of that river to the place of beginning. 

These boundaries, had they been accepted, would have placed 
the northern boundary of the State about thirty miles north of its 
present location, and would have deprived it of the Missouri 
slope and the boundary of that river. The western boundary 
would have been near the west line of what is now Kossuth 
county. But it was not so to be. In consequence of this radical 
and unwelcome change in the boundaries, the people refused to 
accept the act of Congress and rejected the constitution at the 
election, held August 4, 1845, by a vote of 7,f)56 to 7,235, 

A second constitutional convention assembled at Iowa Ciiy on 
the 4th day of May, 1846, and on the 18th of the same month an- 
other Constitution for the new State with the present boundaries- 
was adopted and submitted to the people for ratification on the 3d 
day of August following, when it was accepted; 9,492 votes were 
cast "for the Constitution," and 9,036 ''against the Consti ution." 

The Constitution was approved by Congress, and by act of Con- 
gress approved December 28. 1846, Iowa was admitted as a sover- 
eign State in the American Union. 

Prior to this action of Congress, however, the people of the 
new State held an election under the new Constitution on the •26th 
day of October, and elected Oresel Briggs, Governor; ElishaCutler^ 
Jr., Secretary of State; Joseph T. Fales, Auditor; Morgan Reno, 
Treasurer, and members of the Senate and House of Represent- 
atives. 

At this time there were twenty-seven organized counties in the 
State, with a population of nearly 100,000, and the frontier 
settlements were rapidly pushing toward the Missouri river. The 
Mormons had already reached there. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 61 

The first General Assembly of the State of Iowa was composed 
of nineteen Senators and forty Representatives. It assembled at 
Iowa City November 30, 1840, about a monihbefore the State was 
admitted into the Union. 

At the first session of the State Legislature, the Treasurer of 
State reported that the eapitol building was in a very exposed con- 
dition, liable to injury from storms, and expressed the hope that 
some provision would be made to complete it, at least sufficiently 
to protect it from the weather. The General Assembly responded 
by appropriating $2,500 for the completion of the public buildings. 
At the first session also arose the question of the re-location of 
the capital. The western boundary of the State, as now deter- 
mined, left Iowa City too far toward the eastern and southern 
boundary of the State; this was conceded. Congress had appro- 
priated five sections of land for the erection of public buildings, 
and toward the close of the session a bill was introduced provid- 
ing for the re-location of the seat of government, involving to 
some extent the location of the State IJniversity, which had al- 
ready been discussed. This bill gave rise to a deal of discussion 
and parliamentary maneuvering, almost purely sectional in its 
character. It provided for the appointment of three Commis- 
sioners, who were authorized to make a location as near the geo- 
graphical center of the State as a healthy and eligible site could be 
obtained; to select the five sections of laud donated by Congress; 
to survey and plat into town lots not exceeding one section of the 
land so selected; to sell lots at public sale, not to exceed two in 
each block. Having done this, they were then required to sus- 
pend further operations, and make a report of their proceedings 
to the Governor. The bill passed both Houses by decisive votes, 
received the signature of the Governor and became a law. Soon 
after, by ''An act to locate and establish a State University," ap- 
proved February 25th, 1847, the unfinished public buildings at 
Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land on which they were 
situated, were granted for the use of the University, reserving 
their use, however, by the General assembly and the State officers, 
until other provisions were made by law. 

The commissioners forthwith entered upon their duties, and se- 
lected four sections and two half sections in Jasper county. Two 
of these sections are in what is now Des Moines Township, and 
the others in Fairview township, in the southern part of that 
county. These lands are situated between Prairie City and Mon- 
roe, on the Keokuk & Des Moines Railroad, which runs diagonally 
through them. Here a town was platted, called Monroe City, and 
a sale of lots took place. Four hundred and fifteen lots were sold 
at prices that were not considered remarkably remunerative. The 
cash payments (one-fourth) amounted to $1,797.43, while the ex- 
penses of the sale and the claims of the Commissioners for ser- 



62 HISTOKY OF IOWA. 

vices amounted to 82,206.57. The Commissioners made a report 
of their proceedings to the Governor, as required by law, but the. 
location was generally condemned. 

When the report of the Commissioners, showing this brilliant 
financial operation, had been read in the House of Representatives 
at the next session, and while it was under consideration, an indig- 
nant member, afterward known as the eccentric Judge McFar- 
land, moved to refer the report to a select committee of five, with 
instructions to report "how much of said city of Monroe was under 
water and how much was burned." The report was referred, 
without the instructions, however, but Monroe City never be- 
came the seat of government. - By an act approved January 15, 
1849, the law by which the location had been made was repealed 
and the new town was vacated, the money paid by purchasers of 
lots being refunded to them. This, of course, retained the seat of 
government at Iowa City, and precluded for the time, the occupa- 
tion of the building and grounds by the University. 

At the same session ^3,000 more were appropriated for complet- 
ing the State building at Iowa City. In 1852 the further sum of 
$5,000, and in 1854 $4,000 more were appropriated for the same 
purpose, making the whole cost $123,000, paid partly by the Gen- 
eral Government and partly by the State, but principally from the 
proceeds of the sale of lots in Iowa City. 

But the question of the permanent location of the seat of gov- 
ernment Wcis not settled; and in 1851 bills were introduced for the 
removal of the capital to Bella and to FortDes Moines. The lat- 
ter appeared to have the support of the majority, but was finally 
lost in the House on the question of ordering it to its third read- 
ing- 

At the next session, in 1853, a bill was introduced in the Sen- 
ate for the removal of the seat of government to Fort Des Moines, 
and, on final vote, was just barely defeated. At the next session, 
however, the efibrt was more successful, and on the 15th day of 
January, 1855, a bill re-locating the capital within two miles of 
the Racoon Fork of the Des Moines, and for the appointment of 
Commissioners, was approved by Gov. Grimes. The site was se- 
lected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the 
land being donated to the State by citizens and property-holders 
of Des Moines. An association of citizens erected a building for 
a temporary capitol,and leased it to the State at a nominal rent. 

The third constitutional convention to revise the Constitution 
of the State assembled at Iowa City, January 19, 1857. The new 
constitution framed by this convention was submitted to the peo- 
ple at an election held August 3, 1857, when it was approved and 
adopted by a vote of 40,311 "for" to 38,681 "against," and on the 
3rd day of September following was declared by a proclamation of 
the Governor to be the supreme law of the State of Iowa. 



HLSTORY OF IOWA. 63 

Advised of the completioii of the temporary State House at Des 
Moines, on the 19th of October following, Governor Grimes issued 
another proclamation, declaring the city of Des Moines to be the 
capital of the State of Iowa. 

The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once 
and continued through the fall, tt was an undertaking of no 
small magnitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the 
work, and the season was unusually disagreeable. Rain, snow, 
and other accompaniments increased the difficulties, and it was 
not until December that the last of the effects — the safe of the 
State Treasurer, loaded on two large ''bob-sleds"^drawn by ten 
yoke of oxen, was deposited in the new capitol. It is not impru- 
dent now to remark that, during this passage over hills and 
prairies, across rivers, through bottom lands and timber, the safes 
belonging to the several departments contained large sums of 
money, mostly individual funds, however. Thus, Iowa City 
ceased to be the capital of the State, after four Territorial Legisla- 
tures, six State Legislatures and three Constitutional Conventions 
had held their sessions there. By the exchange, the old capitol at 
Iowa City became the seat of the University, and except the rooms 
occupied by the United States District Court, passed under the im- 
mediate and direct control of the trustees of that institution. 

Des Moines Avas now the permanent seat of government, made 
so by the fundamental law of the State, and on the 11th day of 
January, 1858, the seventh General Assembly convened at the 
new capital. The building used for governmental purposes was 
purchased in 1864. It soon became inadequate for the purposes 
for which it WaS designed, and it became apparent that a new, 
large and permanent State House must be erected. In 1870, the 
General Assembly made an appropriation, and provided for the ap- 
pointment of a Board of Commissioner? to commence the work. 
The board consisted of Gov, Samuel Merrill, ex-officio President; 
Grenville M. Dodge, Council Bluffs; James P. Wilson, Fairfield; 
James Dawson, Washington; Simon G. Stein, Muscatine; James 
0. Crosby, Gaiusville; Charles Dudley, Agency City; John N. 
Dewey, Des Moines; William L. Joy, Sioux City; Alexander R. 
Fulton, Des Moines, Secretary. 

The act of 1870 provided that the building should be constructed 
of the best material and should be fire proof, to be heated and ven- 
tilated in the most approved manner; should contain suitable leg- 
islative halls, rooms for State officers, the judiciary, library, com- 
mittees, archives and the collections of the State Agricultural 
Society, and for all purposes of State Government, and should be 
erected on grounds held by the State for that purpose. The sum 
first appropriated was $150,000; and the law provided that no 
contract should be made, either for constructing or furnishing the 
building, which should bind the State for larger sums than those 
at the time appropriated. A design was drawn and plans and 



64 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

specifications furnished by Cochrane & Piqueuard, architects, which 
were accepted by the board, and on the 23d of November, 1871, 
the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The 
estimated cost and present value of the capitol is fixed at $2,000,- 
000. 

From 1858 to 18G0, the Sioux became troublesome in the north- 
western part of the State. These warlike Indians made frequent 
plundering raids upon the settlers, and murdered several families. 
in 18G1, several companies of militia were ordered to that portion 
of the State to hunt down and punish the murderous thieves. No 
battles were fought, however, for the Indians fled when they as- 
certained that systematic and adequate measures had been adopted 
to protect the settlers. 

"The year 1856 marked a new era in the history of Iowa. In 
1854, the Chicago & Kock Island Railroad had been completed to 
the east bank of the Mississippi River, opposite Davenport. In 
1854, the corner stone of a railroad bridge, that was to be the first 
to span the "Father of Waters," was laid with appropriate cere- 
monies at this point. St. Louis had resolved that the enterprise 
was unconstitutional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuc- 
cessful effort to prevent its completion. Twenty years later in her 
history, St. Louis repented her folly, and made atonement for her 
sin by imitating our example. On the first day of January, 1856, 
this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the meantime, two 
other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mississippi — one 
opposite Burlington, and one opposite Dubuque — and these were 
being extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four lines 
of railroad had been projected across the State from the Mississippi 
to the Missouri, having eastern connections. On the 15tli of May, 
1856, the Congress of the United States passed an act granting to 
the State, to aid in the construction of railroads, the public lands 
in alternate sections, six miles on either side of the proposed line. 
An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of 
this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that 
proposed to complete these enterprises. The population of our 
State at this time had increased to 500,000. Public attention had 
been called to the necessity of a railroad across the continent. The 
position of Iowa, in the very heart and center of the Republic,on 
the route of this great highway across the continent, began to at- 
tract attention. Cities and towns sprang up through the State as 
if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it been 
employed in developing our vast coal measures and establishing 
manufactories among us, or if it had been expended in improving 
our lands, and building houses and barns, it would have been well. 
But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation 
ruled the hour. 

In the meantime every effort was made to help the speedy 
completion of the railroads. Nearly every county and city on the 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



65 



Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted lar»e corporate sub- 
scriptions to the stock of the railroad companies, and issued their 
negotiable bonds for the amount. Thus enormous county and 
city debts were incurred, the payment of which these municipalities 
tried to avoid upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitu- 
tional limitation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the 
United States held these bonds to be valid, and the courts by man- 
damus compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to 
pay the judgments. These debts are not all paid even yet, but 
the worst is over and ultimately the burden will be entirely re- 
moved. 

The first railroad across the State was completed to Council 
Bluffs in January, 1871. The others were completed soon after. 
[n 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in the State. In 1874, 
twenty years after, there were 3,765 miles in successful opera- 
tion, 

GROWTH AND PROGRESS. 

When Wisconsin Territory was organized, in 1836, the entire 
population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the 
State of Iowa was 10,531. The Territory then embraced two 
counties; Dubuque and Des Moines, erected by the Territory of 
Michigan, in 1834. From 1836 to 1838, the territorial Legisla- 
lature of Wisconsin increased the number of counties to sixteen, 
and the population had increased to 22,859. Since then the coun- 
ties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population, in 1875, 
was 1,366,000. The following table will show the population at 
different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory: 

Year. Poj)ulat\on. 

183S 22,589 

1840 43,115 

1844 75,152 

1846 ." 97,588 

1847 116,651 

1849 152,988 

1850 191,9S2 

1851 204,774 

1852 230,713 

1853 326,013 

1856 519,055 

The most populous county in the State is Dubuque. Not only 
in population, but in everything contributing to the growth and 
greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little 
more than thirty years, its wild but beautiful prairies have ad- 
vanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized common- 
wealth, embracing all the elements of progress which character- 
ize the older States. 

Thriving cities and towns dot its fair surface; an iron net- work 
of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres; 
ten thousand school houses, in which more than five hundred 



Year. Population. 

1859 638,775 

1860 674,913 

1863 701,732 

1865 754,699 

1867 902,040 

1869 1,040,819 

1870 1,191,727 



1873. 



1,251,? 



1875 1,366,000 

1880 1.624,463 



C6 HISTOKY OF IOWA. 

thousaud children are being taught the rudiments of education, 
testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, 
colleges and universities are generously endowed by the State; 
manufactories spring up on all her water courses, and in most of 
her cities and towns. 

Whether measured from the date of her first settlement, her 
organization as a Territory, or admission as a State, Iowa has thus 
far shown a growth unsurpassed, in a similar period, by any com- 
monwealth on the face of the earth; and, with her vast extent of 
fertile soil, with her inexhaustible treasures of mineral wealth, 
with a healthful, invigorating climate; an intelligent, liberty-loving 
people; with equal, just and liberal laws, and her free schools, 
the future of Iowa may be expected to surpass the most hopeful 
anticipations of her present citizens. 

Looking upon Iowa as she is to-day — populous, prosperous and 
happy — it is hard to realize the wonderful changes that have oc- 
curred since the first white settlements were made within her bor- 
ders. When the number of States was only twenty-six, and their 
total population about twenty millions, our republican form of gov- 
ernment was hardly more than an experiment, just fairly put upon 
trial. The development of our agricultural resources and inex- 
haustible mineral wealth had hardly commenced. Westward the 
"Star of Empire" had scarcely started on its way. West of the 
great Mississippi was a mighty empire, but almost unknown, and 
marked on the maps of the period as ''The Great American Des- 
ert." 

Now, thirty-eight stars glitter on our national escutcheon, and 
fifty millions of people^ who know their rights and dare 
maintain them, tread American soil, and the grand sisterhood of 
States extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, 
and from the rocky coast of the Atlantic to the golden shores of 
the Pacific. 

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM. 

Ames, Stori/ County. 

The Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm were established 
by an act of the General Assembly, approved March 22d, 1858. 
A Board of Trustees was appointed, consisting of Governor R. P. 
Lowe, John D. Wright, William Duane Wilson, M. W. Robinson. 
Timothy Day, Richard Gaines, John Pattee, G. W. F. Sherwin, 
Suel Foster, S. W. Henderson, Clement Coffin, and E. G. Day; the 
Governor of the State and President of the College being ex-officio 
members. Subsequently the number of Trustees was reduced to 
five. The Board met in June, ISoO, and received propositions for 
the location of the College and Farm from Hardin, Polk, Story and 
Boone, Marshall, Jefferson and Tama counties. In July, the 
proposition of Story County and some of its citizens and by the 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 67 

citizens of Boone Couuty was accepted, and the farm and the 
site for the buildings were located. In 1860-61, the farm house 
and barn were erected. In 1862 Congress granted to the State 
240,000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture 
and the mechanical arts, and 195,000 acres were located by Peter 
Melendy, Commissioner, in 1862-63, In 1864 the General As- 
sembly appropriated $20,000 for the erection of the college build- 

In June of that year the Building Committee proceeded to let 
the contract. The $20,000 appropriated by the General Assembly 
were expended in putting in the foundations and makinsc the 
brick for the structure. An additional appropriation of $91,000 
was made in 1866, and the building was completed in 1868. 

Tuition in this college is made by law forever free to pupils 
from the State over sixteen years of age, who have been resident 
of the State six months previuous to their admission. Each county 
in the State has a previous right of tuition for three scholars from 
each county; the remainder, equal to the capacity of the college, 
are by the trustees distributed among the counties in proportion 
to the population, and subject to the above rule. All sale of ar- 
dent spirits, wine or beer, is prohibited by law within a distance 
of three miles from the college, except for sacramental, mechani- 
cal or medical purposes. 

The course of instruction in the Agricultural College embraces 
the following branches: Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, 
Horticulture, Fruit Growing, Forestry, Animal and Vegetable 
Anatomy, Geology, Mineralogy, Meteorology, Entomology, 
Zoology, the Veterinary Art, Plain Mensuration, Leveling, Sur- 
veying, Bookkeeping, and such Mechanical Arts as are directly 
connected with agriculture; also such other studies as the Trus- 
tees may, from time to time, prescribe, not inconsistent with the 
purposes of the institution. The funds arising from the lease and 
sale of lands, and interest on investments, are sufficient for the 
support of the institution. 

The Board of Trustees, in 1881. was composed of Charles W. 
Tenney, Plymouth; George H. Wright, Sioux City; Henry G. 
Little, Grinnell; William McClintock, West Union; John N. 
Dixon, Oskaloosa. A. S. Welch, President of the Faculty, W. D. 
Lucas, Treasurer; E. W. Stanton, Secretary. 

The Trustees are elected by the General Assembly, in joint 
convention, for four years, three being elected at one session and 
two the next. 

THE STATE UNIVERSITY. 

loiva City, Johnson Comity. 

In the famous Ordinance of 1787, enacted by Congress before 
the Territory of the United States extended beyond the Missis- 
sippi River, it was declared that in all the territory northwest of 



68 HISTOIiY OF IOWA. 

the Ohio River, "Schools and the means of education shall for- 
ever be encouraged," By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840, 
the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized "to set apart and re- 
serve from sale, out of any of the public lands within the Terri- 
tory of Iowa, to which the Indian title has been or may be ex- 
tinguished, and not otherwise appropriated, a quantity of land, not 
exceeding the entire townships, for the use and support of a uni- 
versity within said Territory when it becomes a State, and for no 
other use or purpose whateverr; to be located in tracts of not less 
than an entire section, corresponding with any of the large divis- 
ions into which the public lands are authorized to be surveyed." 

William W. Dodge, of Scott County, was appointed by the 
Secretary of the Treasury to make the selections. He selected 
Section 5, in Township 78, north of Range 3, east of the Fifth 
Principal Meridian, and then removed from the Territory. No 
more land were selected until 1846, when, at the request of the 
Assembly, John M. Whitaker, of Van Buren County, was ap- 
pointed, who selected the remainder of the grant except about 122 
acres. 

In the first Constitution, under which Iowa was admitted to the 
Union, the people directed the disposition of the proceeds of this 
munificent grant in accordance with its terms, and instructed the 
General Assembly to provide, as soon as may be, effectual means 
for the improvement and permanent security of the funds of the 
University derived from the lands. 

The first General Assembly, by act approved February 25, 1847, 
established the "State University of Iowa" at lowa'City, then 
the Capital of the State, "with such other branches as public con- 
venience may hereafter require." The "public buildings at Iowa 
City, together with the ten acres of land in which they are sit- 
uated, were granted for the use of said University, j^ror/fW. how- 
ever, that the sessions of the Legislature and State offices should 
be held in the capitol until otherwise provided by law. The con- 
trol and management of the University were committed to a 
Board of fifteen Trustees, to be appointed by the Legislature, five 
of whom were to be chosen biennially. The Superintendent of 
Public Instruction was made president of this Board. Provisions 
were made for the disposal of the two townships of land, and for 
the investment of the funds arising therefrom. The act further 
provides that the University shall never be under the exclusive 
control of any religious denomination whatever, and as soon as 
the revenue for the grant and donations amounts to $2,000 a year, 
the University should commence and continue the instruction, 
free of charge, of fifty students annually. The General Assem- 
bly retained full supervision over the Universiy, it officers and 
the grants and donations made and to be made to it by the State. 

The organization of the University at Iowa City was impractica- 
ble, however, so long as the seat of government was retained there. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 69 

In January, 1849, two branches of the University and three 
Normal Schools were established. The branches were located — • 
one at Fairfield, and the other at Dubuque, and were placed upon 
an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with 
the University established at Iowa City. "This act," says Col. 
Benton, "created three State Universities, with equal rights and 
powers, instead of a 'University with such branches as public con- 
venience may hereafter de?nand^^ as provided by the Constitu- 
tion." 

The Board of Directors of the Fairfield Branch consisted of 
Barnet Ristine, Christian W. Slagle, Daniel Rider, Horace Gay- 
lord, Bernhart Henn and Samuel S. Bayard. At the first meeting 
of the Board Mr. Henn was elected President, Mr. Slagle Secre- 
tary, and Mr. Gaylord Treasurer. Twenty acres of land were 
purchased, and a building erected thereon, costing $2,500. This 
building was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, in 1850, but was re- 
built more substantially, all by contributions of the citizens of 
Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State or 
from the University Fund, and by act approved January 24, 1853, 
at the request of the Board, the General Assembly terminated its 
relation to the State. 

The branch at Dubuque was placed under the control of the 
Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Trustees never or- 
ganized, and its existence was only nominal. 

The Normal Schools were located at Andrew, Oskaloosa and 
Mount Pleasant, respectively. Each was to be governed by a board 
of seven Trustees, to be appointed by the Trustees of the Univer- 
sity. Each was to receive $500 annually from the income of the 
University fund, upon condition that they should educate eight 
common school teachers, free of charge for tuition, and that the 
citizens should contribute an equal sum for the erection of the 
requisite buildings. The several Boards of Trustees were appointed. 
At Andrew, the school was organized November 21, 1849. A 
building was commenced and over $1,000 expended on it, but it 
was never completed. At Oskaloosa, the Trustees organized in 
April, 1852. This school was opened in the Court House, Septem- 
ber 13, 1852. A two-story brick building was completed in 1853, 
costing $2,473. The school at Mount Pleasant was never organ- 
ized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the Univer- 
sity fund, but in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 each 
for those at Oskaloosa and Andrew, and repealed the law author- 
izing the payment of money to them from the University fund. 
From that time they made no further effort to continue in opera- 
tion. 

At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held February 
21, 1850, the ''College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper 
Mississippi," established at Davenport, was recognized as the "Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons of the State University of Iowa," 



70 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

expressly stipulating, however, that such recognition should not 
render the University liable for any pecuniary aid, nor was the 
Board to have any control over the property or management. of 
the Medical Association. Soon after, this College was removed to 
Keokuk, its second session being opened there in November, 1850. 
In 1851, the General Assembly confirmed the action of the Board, 
and by act approved January 22, 1855, placed the Medical College 
under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the University, 
and it continued in operation until this arrangement was termi- 
nated by the new Constitution, September 3, 1857. 

From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trustees was kept full by 
regular elections by the Legislature, and the Trustees held fre- 
quent meetings, but there wfis no effectual organization of the 
University. In March, 1855, it was partially opened for a term 
of sixteen weeks. July 16, 1855, Amos Dean, of Albany, N. Y., 
wjis elected President, but he never entered fully upon its duties. 
The University was again opened in September, lc55, and con- 
tinued in operation until June, 1856, under Professors Johnson, 
Welton, Van Valkenburg and Guffin. 

In the Spring of 1856 the capital of the State was located at 
Des Moines; but there were no buildings there, and the capitol at 
Iowa City was not vacated by the State until December, 1857. 

In June. 1856, the faculty was re-organized, with some changes, 
and the University was again opened on the third Wednesday of 
September, 1856. There were one hundred and twenty-four stu- 
dents — eighty-three males and forty-one females in attendance 
during the year 1856-7, and the first regular catalogue was pub- 
lished. 

Article IX, Section 11, of the new State Constitution, which 
went into force Sept. 3, 1857, provided as follows: 

The State University shall be established at one place, without branches at 
any other place; and the University fund shall be applied to that institution, 
and no other. 

Article XI, Section 8, provided that 

The seat of government is hereby permanently established, as now fixed by 
law, at the city of Des Moines, in the county of Polk; and the State University 
at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson. 

The new Constitution created the Board of Education, consist- 
ing of the Lieutenant-Governor, who was ex-officio President, and 
one member to be elected from each judicial district in the State. 
This Board was endowed with "full power and authority to legis- 
late and make all needful rules and regulations in relation to com- 
mon schools and other educational institutions," subject to altera- 
tion, amendment or repeal by the General Assembly, which was 
vested with authority to abolish or re-organize the Board at any 
time after 1863. 

In December, 1857, the old capitol building, now known as 
Central Hall of the University, except the rooms occupied by the 
United States District Court, and the property, with that excep- 



HISTORY OP IOWA. 71 

tion, passed under the control of the Trustees, and became the 
seat of the University. The old building had had hard usage, and 
its arrangement was illy adapted for University purposes. Exten- 
sive repairs and changes were necessary, but the Board was with- 
out funds for these purposes. 

The last meeting of the Board, under the old law, was held in 
January, 1858. At this meeting a resolution was introduced, and 
seriously considered, to exclude females from the University; but 
it finally failed. 

March 12, 1858, the first Legislature under the new Constitution 
enacted a new law in relation to the University, but it was not 
materially diff"erent from the former. March 11, 1858, the Legis- 
lature appropriated $3,000 for the repair and modification of the 
old capitol building, and 110.000 for the erection of a boarding 
house, now known as South Hall. 

The Board of Trustees created by the new law met and duly or- 
ganized April 27, 1858, and determined to close the University 
until the income from its funds should be adequate to meet the 
current expenses, and the buildings should be ready for occupa- 
tion. Until this term, the building known as the "Mechanics' 
Academy" had been used for the school. The Faculty, except the 
Chancellor (Dean), was dismissed, and all further instruction sus- 
pended, from the close of the term then in progress until Sep- 
tember, 1859. At this meeting, a resolution was adopted ex- 
cluding females from the University after the close of the existing 
term; but this was afterward, in August, modified, so as to admit 
them to the Normal Department. 

An ''Act for the Government and Regulation of the State Uni- 
versity of Iowa," approved December 25, 1858, was mainly a re- 
enactment of the law of March 12, 1858, except that changes were 
made in the Board of Trustees, and manner of their appointment. 
This law provided that both sexes were to be admitted on equal 
terms to all departments of the institution, leaving the Board no 
discretion in the matter. 

At the annual meeting June 28, 1860, a full Faculty was ap- 
pointed, and the University re-opened, under this new organiza- 
tion, September 19, 1860 (third Wednesday); and at this date the 
actual existence of the University may be said to commence. 

August 19, 1862, Dr. Totten having resigned, Prof. Oliver M. 
Spencer was elected President and the honorary degree of Doctor 
of Laws was conferred upon Judge Samuel F. Miller, of Keokuk. 

At the commencement, in June, 1863, was the first class of 
graduates in the Collegiate Department. 

The Board of Education was abolished March 19, 1864 and the 
ofiice of Superintendent of Public Instruction was restored; the 
General Assembly resumed control of the subject of education, 
and on March 21 an act was approved for the government of the 
University. It was substantially the same as the former law, but 



2 HISTORY OF IOWA. 



<Z 



provided that the Governor should be ex-offieio President o£ the 
Board of Trustees. Until 1858, the Superintendent of Public 
Instruction had been ex-otKcio President. During the period of 
the Board of Education, the University trustees were elected by 
it, and elected their own President. 

The North Hall was completed late in 1866. 

The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and in Sep- 
tember following an arrangement was perfected with the Iowa 
Law School, at Des Moines, which had been in successful opera- 
tion for three years, by which that institution was transferred to 
Iowa City and merged in the Law Department of the University. 

At a special meeting of the Jioard, on the 17th of September, 
1868, a committee was appointed to consider the expediency of 
establishing a Medical Department. The committee reported at 
once in favor of the proposition, the Faculty to consist of the 
['resident of the University and seven Professors, and recom- 
mended that, if practicable, the new department should be opened 
at the commencement of the University year, in 1860-70. 

By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 1870, 
the ''lioard of Begents" was instituted as the governing power of 
the University, and since that time it has been the fundamental 
law of the institution. The Board of Regents held its first meet- 
ing June 28, 1870. 

The South Hall, having been fitted up for the purpose, the first 
term of the Medical Department was opened October 24, 1870, and 
continued until March, 1871. 

In June 18T'l:, the "Chair of ]\lilitary Instruction" Avas estab- 
lished, and the President of the United States was requested to 
detail an ofiicer to perform its duties. At the annual meeting, in 
1876, a LH'partment of Homwpathy was established. In March, 
1877 a resolution was adopted affiliating the High Schools of the 
State with the University. 

In 1872, the ex-officio membership of the Superintendent of 
Public Instruction was abolished, but it was restcred in 1876. 

The Board of Regents, in 1881, was composed as follows: 
JohnH. Gear, Governor, cx-of/icio. President; Carl W. VonCoelln, 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-officio; J. L. Picard, 
President of the University, ex-officio. C. W. Slagle, Fairfield, 
First District; D. N. Richardson, Davenport. Second District; H. 
C. Bulis, Decorah, Third District; A. T, Reeve, Hampton, Fourth 
District; J. N. W. Rumple, Marengo, Fifth District; W. 0. 
Crosby, Centerville, Sixth District; T. S. Parr, Indianola, Seventh 
District; Horace Everett, Council Bluffs, Eighth District; J. F. 
Duncombe, Fort Dodge, Ninth District. John N. Coldren, Iowa 
City, Treasurer; W. J. Haddock, Iowa City, Secretary. 

The Regents are elected by the General Assembly, in Joint 
Convention, for six years, one-third being elected at each regular 
session, one member to be chosen from each Congressional District. 



Ifl.STOKY OF IOWA. 78 

Tho presf^nfc educational corpH of the University consists of the 
iVesident, nine Professors in the Collef^iate Department, one Pro- 
fessor and six Instructors in Military Scifnce; Chancellor, three 
Professors and four Lecturers in tlie Law JJepartnient; f'JLcht Prf>- 
fessor demonstrators of Anatomy; Prosector of Surgery and two 
Lecturers in the Medical Department, and two Professors in the 
Homo-patliic Medical J)epartnient. 

STATE inSTOKICAL SOCIETY. 

l?y act of the General Assembly, approved January 28, 1857, a 
State Historical Society was provided for in connection with the 
University. At the commenc(;nje.it, an appropriation of $250 
was made, to be expended in collectinj^, ernbodyinj^ and preserving 
in an authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, charts, maps, 
manuscrif)ts, papers, paintinf^, statuary, and other materials illus- 
trative of the history of Iowa; and with th(; further object to res- 
cue from oblivion the memory of the early pioneers; to obtain and 
preserve various accounts of their exploits, perils and hardy wl- 
ventures; to secure facts and statements relative to the history 
and genius, and progress and decay of the Indian tribes of Iowa, 
to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and past and present re- 
sources of the State; to aid in the publication of such collections 
of the society as shall, from time to time, be deemed of value and 
interest; to aid in binding its books, pamphlets, manuscripts and 
papers, and in defraying other necessary incidental expenses of 
the Society. 

There was appropriated by law to this institution, till the Gen- 
eral Assembly shall otherwise direct, the sum of §500 per annum. 
The Society is under the management of a Board of Curators, 
consisting of eighteen persons, nine of whom are appointed by the 
Governor, and nine elected by the members of the Society. Thf 
Curators receive rio compensation for their services. The annual 
mfMiting is provided for by law, to be held at Iowa City on Mon- 
day preceding the last Wednesday in June of each year. 

The State Historical Society has published a series of very valu- 
able collections, including history, biography, sketches, remi- 
niscences, etc., with quite a large number of finely engraved por- 
traits of prominent and early settlers, under the title of ''Annals 
of Iowa.' 

Till-: PHXlTEXTIAPtY. 
Located at Fort Madison^ Lee County. 

The first act of the Territorial Legislature, relating to a Peni- 
tentiary in Iowa, was appro\ed January 25,1830, the fifth section 
of which authorized the Governor to draw the sum of $20,000 
appropriated by an act of Congress a[)proved July 7, 1838, for 
public buildings in thf I'erritory of Iowa. It jrovided for a 

5 



74 HISTORY OF IOWA, 

Board of Directors of three persons elected by the Legi.-slature, 
who should direct the building of the Penitentiary, which should 
be located within one mile of the public square, in the town of 
Fort Madison, Lee County, provided Fort Madison should deed to 
the Directors a tract of land suitable for a site, and assign theni, 
by contract, a spring or stream of water for the use of the Peni- 
tentiary. To the Directors was also given the power of appoint- 
ing the Warden; the latter to appoint his own assistants. 

The first Directors appointed were John S. David and John 
Claypole. They made their first report to the Legislative Council 
November 9, 1839. The citizens of the town of Fort Madison 
had executed a deed conveying ten acres of land for the building 
site. Amos Ladd was appointed Superintendent of the building 
June 5, 1839. The building was designed of sufficient capacity 
to contain one hundred and thirty-eight convicts, and estimated to 
cost 155,933.90. It was begun on the 9th of July, 1839; the 
main building and Warden's house were completed in the fall of 
1841. Other additions were made from time to time till the build- 
ing and arrangements were all complete according to the plan of 
the Directors. It has answered the purpose of the State as a 
Penitentiary for more than thirty years, and during that period 
many items of practical experience in prison management have 
been gained. 

ADDITIONAL PENITENTIARY. 

Located at Anamosa, Jones County. 

By an Act of the Fourteenth General Assembly, approved April 

23, 1872, William Ure, Foster L. Downing and Martin Heisey 
were constituted Commissioners to locate and provide for the erec- 
tion and control of an additional Penitentiary for the State of 
Iowa. These Commissioners met on the 4th of the following 
June, at Anamosa, Jones County, and selected a site donated by 
the citizens, within the limits of the city. L. W. Foster & Co., 
architects, of Des Moines, furnished the plan, drawings and 
specifications, and work was commenced on the building on the 
28th day of September, 1872. May 13, 1873, twenty convicts 
were transferred to Anamosa from the Fort Madison Peniten- 
tiary. The entire enclosure includes fifteen acres, with a frontage 
of t)63 feet. 

IOWA HOSTITAL FOR THE INSANE. 

Mount Pleasant^ Henry County. 

By an act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved January 

24, 1855, $4,425 were appropriated for the purchase of a site, and 
$50,000 for building an Insane Hospital, and the Governor 
(Grimes), Edward Johnston, of Lee County, and Charles S. Blake, 
of Henry County, were appointed to locate the institution and 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 75 

superintend the erection of the building. These Commissioners 
located the institution at Mt. Pleasant, Henr_y County. A plan 
for a building designed to accomraodate 300 patients was accepted, 
and in October work was commenced. Up to February 25, 1858, and 
including an appropriation made on that date, the Legislature 
had appropriated $258,555.67 to this institution, but the 
building was not finished ready for occupancy by patients until 
March 1, 18G1. April 18, 187G, a portion of the hospital build- 
ing was destroyed by fire. 

Trustees, i88;;— Timothy Whiting, Mount Pleasant; J. II. 
Kulp, Davenport; Denison A. Hurst, Oskaloosa; John Conaway, 
Brooklyn; L. E. Fellows, Lansing. Mark Ranney, M. D., Mt. 
Pleasant, is the Medical Superintendent; C. V. Arnold, Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Treasurer. 

HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. 

Independence, Buchanan Countij. 

In the winter of 18G7-8 a bill providing for an additional Hos- 
pital for the insane was passed by the Legislature, and an appro- 
priation of $125,000 was made for that purpose. Maturin L. 
Fisher, of Clayton County; E. G. Morgan, of Webster County, and 
Albert Clark, of Buchanan County, were appointed Commissioners 
to locate and supervise the erection of the building. 

The Commissioners met and commenced their labors on the 8th 
day of June, 1868, at Independence. The act under which they 
were appointed required them to select the most eligible and de- 
sirable location, of not less than 320 acres, within two miles of 
the City of Independence, that might be offered by the citizens 
free of charge to the State. Several such tracts were offered, but 
the Commissioners finally selected the south half of southwest 
quarter of Section 5; the north half of northeast quarter of Sec- 
tion 7; the north half of northwest quarter of Section 8, and the 
north half of northeast quarter of Section 8, all in Township 88 
north. Range 9 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian. This loca- 
tion is on the west side of the Wapsipinicon River, and about a 
mile from its banks, and about the same distance from Independ- 
ence. 

The contract for erecting the building was awarded for $88,114. 
The contract was signed November 7, 1868, and work was at once 
commenced. The main buildings were constructed of dressed 
limestone, from the quarries at Anamosa and Farley. The base- 
ments are of the local granite worked from the immense boulders 
found in large quantities in this portion of the State. 

In 1872 the building was so far completed that the Commis- 
sioners called the first meeting of the Trustees, on the 10th day 
of July of that year. The building was ready for occupancy 
April 21, 1873. 



76 HISTOKY OF IOWA. 

In 1877, the south wiug was built, but was not completed reiidjr 
for occupancy until the ^Spring or Summer of 1878. 

Trustees, 1881:— Erastus G. Morgan, Fort Dodge, President; 
Jed. Lake, Independence; Mrs. Jennie C. McKinney, Decorah; 
Lewis H. Smith, Algona; David Hammer, McGregor; A. Rey- 
nolds, M. D., Independence, Medical Superintendent; W, G. Don- 
nar, Independence, Treasurer. 

IOWA COLLEGE FOU THF^ BLIND. 

Vinton, Benton County. 

In August, 1852, Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, established 
an Institution for the instruction 'of the blind of Iowa, at Keokuk. 

By act of the General Assembly, entitled "An act to establish 
an Asylum for the Blind,'' approved January 18, 1853, the institu- 
tion was adopted by the State, removed to Iowa City, February 
3d, and opened for the reception of pupils April 4, 1853, free to 
all the blind in the State. 

The Board of Trustees appointed Prof. Samuel Bacon, Princi- 
pal; T. J. McGitiigen, Teacher of Music, and Mrs. Sarah K. 
Bacon, Matron. Twenty-three pupils were admitted during the 
first term. 

In his first report, made in 1854, Prof. Bacon suggested that the 
name should be changed from "Asylum for the Blind," to that 
of "Institution for the Instruction of the Blind." This was done 
in 1855, when the General Assembly made an annual appropria- 
tion for the College of $55 per quarter for each pupil. This was 
subsequently changed to $3,000 per annum, and a charge of |25 
as an admission fee for each pupil, which sum, with the amounts 
realized from the sale of articles manufactured by the blind pupils, 
proved sufficient for the expenses of the institution during Mr. 
Bacon's administration. 

On the 8th of May, 1858, the Trustees met at Vinton, and made 
arrangements for securing the donation of $5,000 made by the 
citizens of that town. 

In June of that year a quarter section of land was donated 
for the College, by John W. 0. Webb and others, and the Trustees 
adopted a plan for the erection of a suitable building. In 1860 the 
plan was modified, and the contract for enclosing let for $10,420. 

In August, 1862, the building was so far completed that the 
goods and furniture of the institution were removed from Iowa City 
to Vinton, and early in October the School was opened there with 
twenty-four pupils. 

Trustees, 1881:— Clinton 0. Harrington, Vinton; S. H. Wat- 
son, Vinton, Treasurer; J. F. White, Sidney; M. H. Westerbrook, 
Lyons; W. II. Leavitt, Waterloo; Jacob Springer, Watkius; 
Rev. Robert Carothers, Principal of the Institution and Secretary 
of the Board. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 77 

INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. 

Council Bluffs^ Pottawattamie Counti/. 

The Iowa Institution for the Deaf and Dumb was established 
at Iowa City by an aet of the General Assembly, approved Jan- 
uary 21, 1855. The number of deaf mutes then in the State was 
301; the number attending the Institution, 50. 

A strong effort was made, in 1866, to remove this important in- 
stitution to Des Moines, but it Avas located permanently at Council 
Bluffs, and a building rented for its use. In 1868, Commissioners 
were appointed to locate a site for, and to superintend the erection 
of a new building, lor which the Legislature appropriated ^125,- 
000 to commence the work of construction. The Commissioners 
selected ninety acres of land about two miles south of the city of 
Council Bluffs. The main building and one wing were completed 
October 1, 1870, and immediately occupied by the Institution. 
February 25, 1877, the main building and east wing were de- 
stroyed by fire; and August Gth, following, the roof of the new 
west wing was blown off and the walls partially demolished by a 
tornado. At the time of the lire about one hundred and fifty 
pupils were in attendance. After the (ire, half the classes were 
dismissed and the number of scholars reduced to about seventy, 
and in a week or two the school was in running order. 

Trustees, 1881: — B. F. Clayton, Macedonia, President; J. H. Stu- 
benrauch, Pella, Treasurer; Louis Weinstein, Burlington. Rev. 
A. Rogers, Superintendent. 

SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOMES. 

Davenport, Cedar Falls, (Jknwood. 

The movement which culminated in the establishment of this 
beniticent institution was originated by Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, 
during the civil war of 1861-65. 'Fhis noble and patriotic lady 
called a convention at Muscatine, on the 7th day of October, 1863, 
for the purpose of devising measures for the support and educa- 
tion of the orphan children of the brave sons of Iowa, who had 
fallen in defense of national honor and integrity. So great was 
the public interest in the movement that there was a large repre- 
sentation from all parts of the State on the day named, and an 
association was organized called the Iowa State Orphan Asylum. 

The first meeting of the Trustees was held February 14, 1864, 
in the Representative Hall, at Des Moines. Committees from both 
branches of the General Assembly were present and were invited 
to participate in their deliberations. Arrangements Avere made 
for raising funds. 

At the next meeting, in Davenport, in March 1864, the Trus- 
tees decided to commence operations at once, and a committee was 



78 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

appointed to lease a suitable building, solicit donations, and pro- 
cure -suitable furniture. The committee secured a large brick 
building in Lawrence, Van Buren County, and engaged Mr. Ful- 
ler, of Mt. Pleasant, as Steward. 

At the annual meeting, in Des Moines, in June, ISGi, Mrs. C. 
B. Baldwin, Mrs. G. G. Wright, Mrs. Dr. Horton, Miss Mary E. 
Shelton and Mr. George Sherman, were appointed a committee to 
furnish the building and take all necessary steps for opening the 
''Home,'' and notice was given that at the next meeting of the 
Association; a motion would be made to change the name of the 
Institution to Iowa Orphans' Home. 

The work of preparation was conducted so vigorously that on 
the 13th day of July following, the Executive Committee an- 
nounced that they were ready to receive the children. In three 
weeks twenty-one were admitted, and the number constantly in- 
creased, so that, in a little more than six months from the time 
of opening, there were seventy children admitted, and twenty 
more applications, which the Committee had not acted upon — ^all 
orphans of soldiers. 

The "Home" was sustained by the voluntary contributions of 
the people until 1866, when it was assumed by the State, In that 
year, the General Assembly provided for the location of several 
such "Homes" in the different counties, and which were estab- 
lished at Davenport, Scott County; Cedar Falls, Black Hawk 
County, and at Glenwood, Mills County. 

The Board of Trustees, elected by the General Assembly, had 
the oversight and management of the Soldiers' Orphans' Homes of 
the State, ioid consisted of one person from each county in which 
such Home was located, and one for the State at large, who held 
their offices two years, or until their successors were elected and 
qualified. An appropriation of ^10 per month for each orphan 
actually supported was made by the General Assemby. 

The Home in Cedar Falls was organized in 1865, and an old 
hotel building was fitted i![) for it. January, 1866, there were 
ninety-six inmates. 

October 12, 1861), the Home was removed to a large brick build- 
inw, about two miles west of Cedar Falls, and was very prosperous 
for several years, but in 1876, the General Assembly established a 
State Normal school at Cedar Falls, and appropriated the build- 
ings aiul grounds for that purpose. 

By "An act to provide for the organization and support of an 
asylum at Glenwood, in Mills County for feeble-minded children,'' 
approved March 17, 1876, the buildings and grounds used by the 
Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place were appropriated for this 
purpose. By another act, approved March 15, 1876, the soldiers' 
orphans, then at the Homes at Glenwood and Cedar Falls, were to 
be removed to the Home at Davenport within ninety days there- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 79 

jifter, and the Board of Trustees of the Home were authorized to 
receive other indigent children into that institution, and provide 
for tlieir education in industrial pursuits. 

Trustees, 1881:— C. M. Holton, Iowa City; Seth P. Bryant, Da- 
venport; C. C. Horton, Muscatine. S. W. Pierce, Davenport, Su- 
perintendent. 

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 

Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County. 

Chapter 129 of the laws of the Sixteenth General Assembly, in 
1876, established a State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black 
Hawk County, and required the Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' 
Home to turn over the property in their charge to the Directors 
of the new institution. 

The Board of Directors met at Cedar Falls June 7, 1876, and 
duly organized. The Board of Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' 
Home met at the same time for the purpose of turning over to the 
Directors the property of that institution, which was satisfac- 
torily done and properly receipted for as required by law. 

On the 12th of July, 1876, the Board again met, when executive 
and teachers' committees were appointed and their duties assigned. 
A Steward and a Matron were elected, and their respective duties 
defined. 

The buildings and grounds were repaired and fitted up as well as 
the appropriation would admit, and the first term of school opened 
September 6, 1876, commencing with twenty-seven and closing 
with eightv-seven students. 

Directors, 1881:— C. C. Cory, Pella; E. H. Thayer, Clinton; G. 
S. Robinson, Storm Lake; N. W. Boyes, Dubuque; L. D. Lewel- 
ling, Mitchellville; J. J. Tollerton, Cedar Falls; E. Townsend, 
Cedar Falls, Treasurer. 

ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN. 

Glenwood, Mills County. 

Chapter 152 of the laws of the Sixteenth General Assembly, 
approved March 17, 1876, provided for the establishment of an 
asylum for feeble-minded children at Glenwood, Mills County, and 
the buildings and the grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at 
that place were to be used for that purpose. The asylum was 
placed under the management of three Trustees, one at least of 
whom should be a resident of Mills County. Children between 
the ages of 7 and 18 years are admitted. Ten dollars per month 
for each child actually supported by the State was appropriated 
by the act, and $2,000 for salaries of officers and teachers for two 
vears. 

Hon. J. W. Cattell, of Polk County; A. J. Russell, of Mills 
County, and W. S. Robertson, were appointed Trustees, who held 
their first meeting at Glenwood, April 26, 1876. The Trustees 



80 HISTORY OF lUWA. 

found the house and farm which had been turned over to thera in 
a shamefully dilapidated condition. The fences were broken 
down and the lumber destroyed or carried away; the windows 
broken, doors off their hinges, floors broken and filthy in the ex- 
treme, cellars reeking with offensive odors from decayed vegeta- 
bles, and every conceivable variety of filth and garbage; drains 
obstructed, cisterns broken, pump demoralized, wind-mill broken, 
roof leaky, and the whole property in the worst possible condi- 
tition. It was the first work of the Trustees to make the house 
tenable. 

The institution was opened September 1, 1870; the first pupil 
admitted September 4, and the school was organized September 10. 

Trustees, 1881 :-Fred. O^Donnell, Dubuque; S. B. Thrall, Ot- 
tumwa; E. R. S. Woodrow, Glenwood; 0. W. Archibald, M. D., 
Medical Superintendent. 

THE REFORM SCHOOL. 

Eldora, Hardin Comity. 

By "An act to establish and organize a State Reform School for 
Juvenile Offenders," approved March 31,1808, the General Assem- 
bly established a State Reform School at Salem, Lee (Henry) 
County; provided for a Board of Trustees, to consist of one per- 
son from each Congressional District. For the purpose of immedi- 
ately opening the school, the Trustees were directed to accept the 
proposition of the Trustees of White's Iowa Manual Labor Insti- 
tute, at Salem, and lease, for not more than ten years, the lands, 
buildings, etc., of the Institute, and at once proceed to prepare for 
and open a reform school as a temporary establishment. 

The contract for fitting up the buildings was let September 21, 
1808, and on the 7th of October following, the first inmate was 
received from Jasper County. The law provided for the admission 
of children of both sexes under 18 years of age. In 1876 this, 
was amended, so that they are now received at ages over 7 and 
under 16 years. 

April 19, 1872, the Trustees were directed to make a permanent 
location for the school, and $^5,000 was appropriated for the erec-^ 
tion of the necessary buildings. The Trustees were further di- 
rected, as soon as practicable, to organize a school for girls in the 
buildings where the boys were then kept. 

The Trustees located the school at Eldora, Hardin County, and 
in the code of 1873, it is permanently located there by law. 

The institution is managed by fiVe Trustees, who are paid mile- 
age, but no compensation for their services. 

The object is the reformation of children of both sexes, under 
the age of 10 and over 7 years of age; and the law requires that 
the Trustees shall require the boys and girls under their charge to 
be instructed in piety and morality, and in such branches of useful 



HISTOKY OF IOWA. 81 

knowledge as are adapted to their age and capacity, and in some 
regular course of labor, either mechanical, manufacturing or agri- 
cultural, as is best suited to their age, strength, disposition and 
capacity, and as may seem best adapted to secure the reformation 
and future benefit of the boys and girls. 

A boy or girl committed to the State Reform School is there 
kept, disciplined, instructed, employed and governed, under the 
direction of the Trustees, until he or she arrives at the age of 
majority, or is bound out, reformed or legally discharged. The 
binding out or discharge of a boy or girl as reformed, or having 
arrived at the age of majority, is a complete release from all pen- 
alties incurred by conviction of the crime for which he or she is 
eommitted. 

Trustees, 1881: — J. A. Parvin, Muscatine, President; W. J. 
Moir, Eldorado, Treasurer; W. G. Stewart, Dubuque: J. T. Moor- 
head, Ely; T. E. Corkhill, Mount Pleasant; B, J. Miles, Eldora, 
Superintendent. L. D. Lewelling is Superintendent of the Girl's 
Department, at Mitchellville, Polk County. 

FISH HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT. 

Near Anamosa, Jones Countij. 

The Fifteenth General Assembly, in 1871. passed "An act to 
provide for the appointment of a Board of Fish Commissioners 
for the construction of fish ways for the protection and propaga- 
tion of fish;" also "an act to provide for furnishing the rivers 
and lakes with fish and fish spawn." This act appropriated $3,000 
for the purpose. In accordance with the provisions of the first 
act above mentioned, on the 9th of Apiil, 1871, S. B. Evans, of 
Ottumwa, Wapello County; B. F. Shaw, of Jones County, and 
Charles A. Haines, of Black Hawk County, were appointed to be 
Fish Commissioners by the Governor. These Commissioners met 
at Des Moines, May 10, 1874, and organized by the election of 
Mr. Evan^, President; Mr. Shaw, Secretary and Superintendent,, 
and Mr. Haines, Treasurer. 

The State was partitioned into three districts or divisions to en- 
able the Commissioners to better superintend the construction of 
fishways as required by law. At this meeting, the Superintendent 
was authorized to build a State Hatching House; co procure the 
spawn of valuable fish adapted to the waters of Iowa; hatch and 
prepare the young fish for distribution, and assist in putting them 
into the waters of the State. 

In compliance with these instructions, Mr. Shaw at once com- 
menced work, and in the summer of 1871, erected a "State 
Hatching House" near Anamosa, 20x10 feet, two stories; the 
second story being designt-d for a tenement; the first story being 
the "hatching room." The hatching troughs are supplied with 
water from a magnificent spring, four feet deep and about ten 



82 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

feet in diameter, affording an abundant and unfailing supply of 
pure running water. During the first year, from May 10, 1874, 
to May 10, 1875, the Commissioners distributed within the State 
100,000 shad, 300,000 California salmon, 10,000 bass, 80,000 
Penobscot (Maine) salmon, 5,000 land-locked salmon, 20,000 of 
other species. 

By act approved March 10, 1876, the law was amended so that 
there should be one instead of three Fish Commissioners, and B. 
F. Shaw was appointed, and the Commissioner Avas authorized to 
purchase twenty acres of land, on which the State Hatching 
House was located, near Anamosa. 

In the fall of 1876, Commissioner Shaw gathered from the 
sloughs of the Mississippi, where they would have been destroyed, 
over a million and a half of small fish, which were distributed in 
the various rivers of the State and turned into the Mississippi. 

In 1875-6, 533,000 California salmon, and in 1877, 303,500 
lake trout were distributed in various rivers and lakes in the State. 
The experiment of stocking the small streams with brook trout is 
being tried, and 81,000 of the speckled beauties were distributed 
in 1877. In 1876, 100,000 young eels were distributed. These 
came from New York, and they are increasing rapidly. 

A. A. Mosier, of Spirit Lake, was appointed Assistant Fish 
Commissioner by the Governor, under Chapter 156, Laws of 1880. 

THE PUBLIC LANDS. 

The grants of public lands made in the State of Iowa, for vari- 
ous purposes, are as follows: 

1. The 500,000 Acre Grant. 

2. The 16th Section Grant. 

o. The Mortgage School Lands. 

4. The University Grant. 

5. The Saline Grant. 

6. The Des M©ines Kiver Grant. 

7. The Des Moines River School Lands. 

8. The Swamp Land Grant. 

9. The Railroad Grant. 

10. The Agricultural College Grant. 

I. THE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRE GRANT. 

When the State was admitted into the Union she became en- 
titled to 500,000 acres of land by virtue of an act of Congress, ap- 
proved September 4, 1841, which granted to each State therein 
specified 500,000 acres of public land for internal improvements; 
to each State admitted subsequently to the passage of the act, an 
amount of land which, with the amount that might have been 
granted to her as a Territory, would amount to 500,000 acres. All 
these lands were required to be selected within the limits of the 
State to which they were granted. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 83 

The Constitution of Iowa declares that the proceeds of this 
grant, together with all lands then granted or to be granted by 
Congress for the benefit of schools, shall constitute a perpetual 
fund for the support of schools throughout the State. By an act 
approved January 15, 1849, the Legislature established a Board of 
School Fund Commissioners, and to that Board was confided the 
selection, care and sale of these lands for the benefit of the School 
Fund. Until 1855, these Commissioners were subordinate to the 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, but on the 15th of Janu- 
ary of that year, they Avere clothed with exclusive authority in the 
management and sale of school lands. The office of School Fund 
Commissioner was abolished March 23, 1858, and that officer in 
each county was required to transfer all papers to and make full 
settlement with the County Judge. By this act, County Judges 
and Township Trustees were made the agents of the State to con- 
trol and sell the sixteenth sections; but no further provision was 
made for the sale of the 500,000 acre grant until April 3d, 1860, 
when the entire management of the school lands was committed 
to the Boards of Supervisors of the several counties. 

II. THE SIXTEENTH SECTIONS. 

By the provisions of the act of Congress admitting Iowa to the 
Union, there was granted to the new State the sixteenth section 
in every township, or where that section had been sold, other 
lands of like amount for the use of schools. The Constitution of 
the State provides that the proceeds arising from the sale of these 
sections shall constitute a part of the permanent school fund. The 
control and sale of these lands were vested in the School Fund 
Commissioners of the several counties until March 23, 1858, when 
they were transferred to the County Judges and Township Trus- 
tees, and were finally placed under the supervision of the County 
Boards of Supervisors in January, 18G1. 

III. THE MORTGAGE SCHOOL LANDS. 

These do not belong to any of the grants of land proper. They 
are lands that have been mortgaged to the school fund, and became 
school lands when bid off" by the State by virtue of a law passed in 
1862. Under the provisions of the law regulating the manage- 
ment and investment of the permanent school fund, persons de- 
siring loans from that fund are required to secure the payment 
thereof with interest at ten per cent, per annum, by promissory 
notes endorsed by two good sureties and by mortgage on unincum- 
bered real estate, which must be situated in the county where the 
loan is made, and which must be valued by three appraisers. Mak- 
ing these loans and taking the required securities was made the 
duty of the County Auditor, who was required to report to the 
Board of Supervisors at each meeting thereof, all notes, mortgages 
and abstracts of title connected with the school fund, for exami- 
nation. 



Si HISTORY OF IOWA. 

Wheu default was made of paynieut of money so secured by 
mortgage, and no arrangement made for extension of time as the 
law provides, the Board of Supervisors were authorized to bring 
suit and prosecute it' with diligence to secure said fund; and in ac- 
tion in favor of the county for the use of the school fund, an in- 
junction may issue without bonds, a)id in any such action, when 
(■ervice is made by publication, default and judgment may be en- 
tered and enforced without bonds, in case of sale of land on exe- 
cution founded on any such mortgage, the atttorney of the board, 
or other person duly authorized, shall, on behalf of the State or 
county for the use of said fund, lid such sum as the interests of 
said fund may require, and if struck off to the State the land shall 
be held and disposed of as the other lands belonging to the fund. 
These lands are known as the Mortgage School Lands, and reports 
of them, including description and amount, are required to be 
made to the State Land Office. 

IV. UNIVERSITY LANDS. 

By act of Congress July 20, 18iO, a quantity of land, not 
exceeding two entire townships, was reserved in the Territory of 
Iowa for the use and support of a university within said Terri- 
tory when it should become a State. This land was to be located 
in tracts of not less than an entire section, and could be used for 
no other purpose than that designated in the grant. In an act 
supplemental to that for the admission of Iowa, March 3, 1845, 
the grant was renewed, and it was provided that the lands should 
be used "solely for the purpose of such university, in such manner 
as the Legislature may prescribe." 

Under this grant there were set apart aud approved by the Sec- 
retary of the Treasury, for the use of the State, the following 
lands: 

ACHES. 

In the Iowa City Land District, Feb. 29, 1849 20.150.49 

In the Fairfield Land District, Oct. 17, 1849 9,685.20 

In the Iowa City Land DiBtrict, Jan. 28, 1850 2,571.81 

In the Fairtield Land District, Sept, 10, 1850 3,198.20 

In the Dubuque Land District, May 19, 1852 10,552.24 

Total : 45,957.94 

These lands were certified to the State November 19, 1859. The 
University lands are placed by law under the control and manage- 
ment of the Board of Trustees of the Iowa State University. Prior 
to 1865 there had been selected and located under 282 patents, 
22,892 acres in sixteen counties, and 23,030 acres unpatented, 
making a total of 45,928 acres. 

V. SALINE LANDS, 

By act of Congress approved March 3, 1845, the State of Iowa 
was granted the use of the salt springs within her limits, not ex- 
ceeding twelve. By a subsequent act, approved May 27, 1852, 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 85 

Coiiwres- granted the spriiios to the State ill fee simple, together 
with six sections of hind contignous to each, to be disposed of as 
the Legislature might direct. In 1861 the proceeds of these lands 
then to be sold were constituted a fund for founding and support- 
ing a lunatic asylum, but no sales were made. In 1856 the pro- 
ceeds of the saline lands were appropriated to the Insane Asylum, 
repealed in 1858. In 18G0, the saline lands and funds were made a 
part of the permanent fund of the State University. These lands 
were located in Appanoose, Davis, Decatur, Lucas, Monroe, Van 
Buren and Wayne counties. 

Vr. THE DESMOlifES RIVER GKANT, 

By act of Congress, approved August 8, 1846, a grant of land 
was made for the improvement of the navigation of Des Moines 
River, as follows: 

Be it enacted hi/ tJte Senate and ffoiise of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and hereby is, grant- 
ed to said 'J'erritory of Iowa for the purpose of aiding said 'J'erritory to improve 
the navigation of the Des Moines River from its mouth to the Racoon Fork (so 
called) in said Territory, one equal moiety, in alternate sections, of the public 
lands (remaining unsold and not otherwise disposed of, incumbered or appro- 
priated), in a strip five miles in width on each side of said river, to be selected 
within said Territory by an agent or agents to be appointed by the Governor 
thereof, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United 
States. • 

Sec. 2. And he it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted shall not 
be conveyed or disposed of by said Territory, nor by any State to be formed out 
of the same, except as said improvement shall progress; that is, the said Terri- 
tory or State may sell so much of said lands as shall produce the sum of thirty 
thousand dollars, and then the sales- shall cease until the Governor of said Ter- 
ritory or State shall certify the fact to the President of the United States that 
one-half of said sum has been expended upon said improvements, when the 
said Territory or State may sell and convey a quantity of the residue of said 
lands sufficient to replace the amount expended, and thus the sales shall pro- 
gi"ess as the proceeds thereof shall be expended, and the fact of such expendi- 
ture shall be certified as aforesaid. 

Sec. 3. And he it further enacted, That the said River Des Moines shall be 
and forever remain a public highway for the use of the Government of the 
United States, free from any toll or other charge whatever, for any property of 
the United States or persons in their service passing through or along the same; 
Provided always. That it shall not be competent for the said Territory or 
future State of Iowa to dispose of said lands, or any of them, at a price 
lower thin, for th3 tim; bainj:, sh.ill b3 th; rainimain prica of other public 
lands. 

Sec. 4. And he it further enacted. That whenever the Territory of Iowa 
shall be admitted into the Union as a State, the lands hereby granted for the 
above purpose shall be .and become the property of said State for the purpose 
contemp'atedin this act, and for no other; Provided, the Legislature of the 
State of Iowa shall accept the said grant for the said purpose. Approved 
Augusts, 1846. 

By joint resolution of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved 
January 9, 1847, the grant was accepted for the purpose specified. 
By another act, approved February 21, 1847. entitled ''An act 



86 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

creating the Board of Public Works, and providing for the im- 
provement of the Des Moines River," the Legislature provided for 
a Board consisting of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be 
elected by the people. This Board was elected August 2, 1847, 
and was organized on the 22d of September following. The same 
act defined the nature of the improvement to be made, and pro- 
vided that the work should be paid for from the funds to be de- 
rived from the sale of lands to be sold by the Board. 

Agents appointed by the Governor selected the sections desig- 
nated by "odd numbers" throughout the whcle extent of the 
grant, and this selection was approved by the Secretary of the 
Treasury. But there was a conflict of opinion as to the extent 
of the grant. It was held by some that it extended from the mouth 
of the Des Moines River only to the Racoon Forks; others held, 
as the agents to make selection evidently did, that it extended from 
the mouth to the headwaters of the river. Richard M. Young, 
Commissioner of the General Laud office, on the 23d of February, 
1848, construed the grant to mean that "the State is entitledito 
the alternate sections within five miles of the Des Moines River, 
throughout the whole extent of that river within the limits of 
Iowa. Under this construction, the alternate sections above the 
Raccoon Forks would, of course, belong to the State; but on the 
19th of June, 1848, some of these lands were, by proclamation, 
thrown into market. On the 18th of September, the Board of 
Public Works filed a remonstrance with the Commissioner of the 
General Land office. The Board also sent in a protest to the State 
Land Office, at which the sale was ordered to take place. On the 
8th of January, 1849, the Senators and Representatives in Con- 
gress from Iowa also protested against the sale, in a communica- 
tion to Hon. Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, to 
which the Secretary replied, concurring in the opinion that the 
grant extended the whole length of the Des Moines River in 
Iowa. 

On the 1st of June, 1849, the Commissioner of the General 
Land Office directed the Register and Receiver of the Land Office 
at Iowa City "to withhold from sale all lands situated in the odd 
numbered sections within five miles on each side of the Des 
Moines River above the Raccoon Forks." March 13, 1850, the 
Commissioner of the General Land Office submitted to the Secre- 
tary of the Interior a list "showing the tracts falling within the 
limits of the Des Moines River grant, above the Raccoon Forks, 
etc., under the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury, of March 
2, 1849," and on the 6th of April following Mr. Ewing, then 
Secretary of the Interior, reversed the decision of Secretary 
Walker, but ordered the lands to be withheld from sale until Con- 
gress could have an opportunity to pass an explanatory act. The 
Iowa authorities appealed from this decision to the President 
(Taylor), who referred the matter to the Attorney General (Mr. 



mSTOKY OF IOWA. 87 

Johnson). On the lOth of July, Mr. Johnson submitted as his 
opinion, that by the terms of the grant itself, it extended to the 
very source of the Des Moines, but before his opinion w^as pub- 
lished President Taylof died. When Mr. Tyler's cabinet was 
formed, the question was submitted to the new Attorney General 
(Mr. Crittenden), who, on the 30th of June, 1851, reported that 
in his opinion the grant did not extend above the Raccoon Forks. 
Mr. Stewart, Secretary of the Interior, concurred with Mr, 
Crittenden at first, but subsequently consented to lay the whole 
subject before the President and Cabinet, who decided in favor of 
the State. 

October 29, 1851, Mr. Stewart directed the Commissioner of the 
General Land Office to "submit for his approval such lists as had 
been prepared, and to proceed to report for like approval lists of 
the alternate sections claimed by the State of Iowa above the Rac- 
coon Forks, as far as the surveys have progressed, or may here- 
after be completed and returned." And on the following day, 
three lists of these lands were prepared in the General Land 
Office. 

The lands approved and certified to the State of Iowa under 
this grant, and all lying above the Raccoon Forks, are as follows: 

Bv Secretary Stewart, Oct. 30, 1851 81,707.93 acres. 

March 10, 1852 143,908.37 ' ' 

By Secretary McLellaii, Dec. 17, 1853 33,142.43 " 

Dec. 30, 1853 12,813.51 " 

Total '. 271,572.24 acres. 

The Commissioners and Register of the Des Moines River Im- 
provement, in their report to the Governor, November 30, 1852, 
estimate the total amount of lands then available for the work, 
including those in possession of the State and those to be surveyed 
and approved, at nearly a million acres. The indebtedness then 
standing against the fund was about $108,000, and the Commis- 
sioners estimated the work to be done would cost about $1,200,000. 

January 10, 1853, the Legislature authorized the Commissioners 
to sell ''any or all the lands which have or may hereafter be 
granted, for not less than $1,300,000." 

On the 24th of January, 1853, the General Assembly provided 
for the election of a Commissioner by the people, and appointed 
two Assistant Commissioners, with authority to make a contract, 
selling the lands of the Improvement for $1,300,000. This new 
Board made a contract, June 9, 1855, with the Des Moines Navi- 
gation & Railroad Company, agreeing to sell all the lands dona- 
ted to the State by Act of Congress of August 8, 1846, which the 
State had not sold prior to December 23, 1853, for $1,800,000, to 
be expended on the improvement of the river, and in paying the 
indebtedness then due. This contract was duly reported to the 
Governor and General Assembly. 



88 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

By an act approved January 25, 1855, the Commissioner and 
Register of the Des Moines River Improvement were authorized 
to negotiate with the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company 
for the purchase of lands in Webster Co^^nty, which had been 
sold by the School Fund Commissioner as school lands, but which 
had been certified to the State as Des Moines River lands, and had, 
therefore, become the property of the Company, under the pro- 
visions of its contract with the State. 

March 21, 1856, the old question of the extent of the grant was 
again raised, and the Commissioner of the General Land Office 
decided that it was limited to the Raccoon Fork. Appeal was 
made to the Secretary of the Interior, and by him the matter was 
referrred to the Attorney General, who decided that the grant ex- 
tended to the northern boundary of the State; the State relin- 
quished its claim to the lands lying along the river in Minnesota, 
and the vexed question was supposed to be finally settled. 

The land which had been certified, as well as those extending to 
the northern boundary within the limits of the grant, were re- 
served from pre-emption and sale by the General Land Commission- 
er, to satisfy the grant of August 8, 1846, and they were treated 
as having passed to the State, which from time to time sold por- 
tions of them prior to their final transfer to the Des Moines Nav- 
igation & Railroad Company^applying the proceeds thereof to the 
improvement of the river in compliance with the terms of the 
grant. Prior to the final sale to the Company, June 9, 1854, the 
State had sold about 327,000 acres, of which amount 58,830 acres 
were located above the Raccoon Fork. The last certificate of the 
General Land Office bears date December 30, 1853. 

After June 9th, 1854, the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad 
Company carried on the work under its contract with the State. 
As the improvement progressed, the State, from time to time, by 
its authorized officers, issued to the Company, in payment for said 
work, certificates for land. But the General Land Office ceased to 
certify lands under the grant of 1846. The State had made no 
other provision for paying for the improvements, and disagree- 
ments and misunderstanding arose between the State authorities 
and the Company. 

March 22, 1858, a joint resolution was passed by the Legislature 
submitting a proposition for final settlement to the Company, 
which w^as accepted. The Company paid to the State $20,000 in 
cash, and released and conveyed the dredge boat and materials 
named in the resolution; and the State, on the 3d day of May, 
1858, executed to the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company 
fourteen deeds or patents to the lands, amounting to 256,703,64 
acres. These deeds were intended to convey all the lands of this 
grant certified to the State by the General Government not pre- 
viously sold; but, as if for the purpose of covering any tract or 
parcel that miglit have been omitted, the State made another deed 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 89 

of conveyance on the IStli day of May, 1858. These fifteen deeds, 
it is claimed, by the Company, convey 266,108 acres, of which 
about 53,367 are below the Raccoon Fork, and the balance, 212,741 
acres, are above that point. 

Besides the lands deeded to the Company, the State had deeded 
to individual purchasers 58,830 acres above the Raccoon Fork, 
making an aggregate of 271,571 acres, deeded above the Fork, all 
of which had been certified to the State by the Federal Grovern- 
ment. 

By act approved March 28, 1858, the Legislature donated the 
remainder of the grant to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minne- 
sota Riilroad Company, upon condition that said Company as- 
sumed all liabilities resulting from the Des Moines River improve- 
ment operations, reserving 50,000 acres of the land in security for 
the payment thereof, and for the completion of the locks and* 
dams at Bentonsport, Crotton, Keosauqua and Plymouth. For 
every three thousand dollars' worth of work done on the locks 
and dams, and for every three thousand dollars paid by the Com- 
pany of the liabilities above mentioned, the Register of the State 
Land Office was instructed to certify to the Company 1,000 acres 
of the 50,000 acres reserved for these purposes. Up to 1865, there 
had been presented by the Company, under the provisions of the 
act of 1858, and allowed, claims amounting to $109,579.37, about 
seventy-five per cent, of which had been settled. 

After the passage of the act above noticed, the question of the 
extent of the original grant was again mooted, and at the De- 
cember terra of the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1859- 
60, a decision was rendered declaring that the grant did not ex- 
tend above Raccoon Fork, and that all certificates of land above 
the Fork had been issued without authority of law and were, 
therefore, void (see 23 How., 66). 

The State of Iowa had disposed of a large amount of land with- 
out authority, according to this decision, and appeal was made to 
Congress for relief, which was granted on the 3d day of March, 

1861, in a joint resolution relinquishing to the State all the title 
which the United States then still retained in the tracts of land 
along the Des Moines River above Raccoon Fork, that had been 
improperly certified to the State by the Department of the Inte- 
rior, and which is now held by bona fide purchasers under the State 
of Iowa. 

In confirmation of this relinquishment, by act approved July 12, 

1862, Congress enacted: 

That the grant of lands to the then Territory of Iowa for the improvement of 
the Des Moines River, made by the act of August 8, 1846, is hereby extended 
so as to include the alternate ssctions (designated by odd numbers) lying within 
five miles of said river, between the Raccoon Fork and the northern boundary 
of said State; such lands are to be held and applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the original grant, except that the consent of Congress is hereby' 
given to the application of a portion thereof to aid in the construction of the 



90 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, in accordance -with the pro- 
visions of the act of the General Assembly of the State of Iowa approved March 
22, 1858. And if any of the said lands shall have been sold or otherwise dis- 
posed of by the United States before the passage of this act, except those re- 
leased by the United States to the grantees of the State of Iowa, under joint 
resolution of March 3, 1861, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby directed to 
set apart an equal amount of lands within said State to be certified in lieu 
thereof: Provided, that if the State shall have sold and conveyed any portion of 
the lands lying within the limits of the grant the title of which has proved in- 
valid, any lands which shall be certified to said State in heu thereof by virtue of 
the provisions of this act, shall inure to and be held as a tnist fund for the ben- 
efit of the person, or persons, respectively, whose titles shall have failed as 
aforesaid. 

The grant of lands by the above act of Congress was accepted 
by a joint resolution of the General Assembly, Sept. 11, 1862, in 
extra session. On the same day, the Governor was authorized to 
appoint one or more Commissioners to select the lands in accord- 
ance with the grant. These Commissioners were instructed to 
report their selections to the Registrar of the State Land Office. 
The lands so selected were to be held for the purposes of the 
grant, and were not to be disposed of until further legislation 
should be had. D. W. Kilburne, of Lee County, was appointed 
Commissioner, and, on the 25th day of April, 1864, the General 
Land Officer authorized the selection of 300,000 acres from the 
vacant public lands as a part of the grant of July 12, 1862, and 
the selections were made in the Fort Dodge and Sioux City Land 
Districts. 

Many difficulties, controversies and conflicts, in relation to claims 
and titles, grew out of this grant, and these difficulties were en- 
hanced by the uncertainty of its limits until the act of Congress 
of July, 1862. But the General Assembly sought, by wise and 
appropriate legislation, to protect the integrity of titles derived 
from the State. Especially was it the determination to protect the 
actual settlers, who had paid their money and made improvements 
pr or to the final settlement of the limits of the grant by Con- 



gress. 



YII.— THE DES MOINES EIVER SCHOOL LANDS. 



These lands constituted a part of the 500,000 acre grant made 
by Congress in 1841; including 28,378.46 acres in Webster County, 
selected by the Agent of the State under that grant, and ap- 
proved by the Commissioner of the General Land Office February 
20, 1851. They were ordered into the market June 6, 1853, by 
the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who authorized John 
Tolman, School Fund Commissioner for Webster County, to 
sell them as school lands. Subsequently, when the act of 1846 
was construed to extend the Des Moines River grant above Rac- 
coon Fork, it was held that the odd numbered sections of these 
lands within five miles of the river were appropriated by that act, 
and on the 30th day of December, 1853, 12,813.51 acres were set 
apart and approved to the State by the Secretary of the Interior, 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 91 

as a part of the Des Moines River grant. January 6, 185-1, the 
Commissioner of the General Land Office transmitted to the Su- 
perintendent of Public Instruction a certified copy of the lists of 
these lands, indorsed by the Secretary of the Interior. Prior to 
this action of the Department, however, Mr. Tolman had sold to 
individual purchasers 3,191.28 acres as school lands, and their 
titles Avere, of course, killed. For their relief, an act, approved 
April 2, 1860, provided that, upon application and proper showing, 
these purchasers should be entitled to draw from the State Treas- 
ury the amount they had paid, with ten per cent, interest, on the 
contract to purchase made with Mr. Tolman. Under this act, five 
applications were made prior to 1864, and the applicants received, 
in the aggregate, $919.53. 

By an act approved April 7, 1862, the Governor was forbidden 
to issue to the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company any cer- 
tificate of the completion of any part of said road, or any convey- 
ance of lands, until the company should execute and file, in the 
State Land office, a release of its claim — first to certain swamp 
lands; second, to the Des Moines River Lands sold by Tolman; 
third, to certain other river lands. That act provided that "the 
said company shall transfer their interests in those tracts of land 
in Webster and Hamilton Counties heretofore sold by John Tol- 
man, School Fund Commissioner, to the Register of the State 
Land Office in trust, to enable said Register to carry out and per- 
form said contracts in all cases when he is called upon by the 
parties interested to do so, before the 1st day of January, A. D., 
1861. 

The company filed its release to the Tolman lands, in the Land 
Office, February 27, 1861, at the same time entered its protest that 
it had no claim upon them, never had pretended to have, and had 
never sought to claim them. The Register of the State Land Of- 
fice, under the advice of the Attorney General, decided that pat- 
ents would be issued to the Tolman purchasers in all cases where 
contracts had been made prior to December 23, 1853, and remain- 
ing uncancelled under the act of 1860. But iDcfore any were is- 
sued, on the 27th of August, 1861, the Des Moines Navigation 
and Railroad Company commenced a suit in Chancery, in the 
District Court of Polk County, to enjoin the issue of such patents. 
On the 30th of August, an ex parte injunction was issued. In 
January, 1868, Mr. J. A. Harvey, Register of the Land Office, 
filed in the court an elaborate answer to plaintiffs' petition, deny- 
ing that the company had any right to or title in the lands. Mr. 
Harvey's successor, Mr. C. C. Carpenter, filed a still more exhaus- 
tive answer February 10, 1868. August 3, 1868, the District 
Court dissolved the injunction. The company appealed to the 
Supreme Court, where the decision of the lower court was affirmed 
in December, 1869. 



92 HISTORY OF IOWA. 



VIII. SWAMP LAND GRANT. 



All act o£ Congress, approved March 28, 1850, to enable Arkan- 
sas and other States to reclaim swampy lands within their limits, 
granted all the swamp and overflowed lands remaining unsold 
within their respective limits to the several States. Although 
the total amount claimed by Iowa under this act does not exceed 
4,000,000 acres, it has, like theDes Moines Kiver and some of the 
laud grants, cost the State considerable trouble and expense, and 
required a deal of legislation. The State expended large sums of 
money in making the selections, securing proofs, etc., but the 
General Government appeared to be laboring under the impression 
that Iowa was not acting in good faith; that she had selected 
a large amount of lands under the swamp land grant, transferred 
her interest to counties, and counties to private speculators, and 
the General Land office permitted contests as to the character of 
the lands already selected by the Agents of the State as "swamp 
lands.'' Congress, by joint resolution December 18, 1856, and by 
act March 3, 1857, saved the State from the fatal result of this 
ruinous policy. Many of these lands were selected in 1854 and 
1855, immediately after several remarkably wet seasons, and it 
was but natural that some portions of the selections would not ap- 
pear swampy after a few dry seasons. Some time after these first 
selections were made, persons desired to enter parcels of the so- 
called swamp lands and offering to prove them to be dry. In such 
cases the General Land office ordered hearing before the local 
land officers, and if they decided the land to be dry, it was permit- 
ted to be entered and the claim of the State rejected. Specula- 
tors took advantage of this. Affidavits were bought of irrespon- 
sible and reckless men, who, for a few dollars, would confident- 
ly testify to the character of lands they never saw. These ap- 
plications multiplied until they covered 3,000,000 acres. It was 
necessary that Congress should confirm all these selections to the 
State, that this gigantic scheme of fraud and plunder might be 
stopped. The act of Congress of March 3, 1857, was designed to 
accomplish this purpose. But the Commissioner of the General 
Land office held that it was only a qualified confirmation and un- 
der this construction sought to sustain the action of the Depart- 
ment in rejecting the claim of the State, and certifying them un- 
der act of May 15, 1856, under which the railroad companies 
claimed all swamp land in odd numbered sections within the lim- 
its of their respective roads. This action led to serious complica- 
tions. When the railroad grant was made, it was not intended, 
nor was it understood that it included any of the swamp lauds. 
These were already disposed of by previous grant. Nor did the 
companies expect to receive any of them, but under the decision 
of the Department adverse to the State the way was opened, and 
hey were not slow to enter their claims. March 4, 1862, the At- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 93 

torney General of the State submitted to the General Assembly an 
opinion that the railroad companies were not entitled even to con- 
test the right of the State to these lands, under the swamp land 
grant. A letter from the Acting Commissioner of the General 
Land Office expressed the same opinion, and the General Assembly 
by joint resolution, approved April 7, 1862, expressly repudiated 
the acts of the railroad companies, and disclaimed any intention 
to claim these lands under any other than the act of Congress of 
September 28, 1850. A great deal of legislation has been found 
necessary in relation to these swamp lands. 

IX. THE RAILROAD GRANT. 

One of the most important grants of public lands to Iowa for 
purposes of internal improvement was that known as the "Rail- 
road Grant," by act of Congress, approved May 15, 1856. This 
act granted to the State of Iowa, for the purpose of aiding in the 
construction of railroads from Burlington, on the Mississippi Riv- 
er, to a point on the Missouri River, near the mouth of Platte 
River; from the city of Davenport, via Iowa City and Fort Des 
Moines to Council Bluffs; from Lyons City northwesterly to a 
point of intersection with the main line of the Iowa Central Air 
Line Railroad, near Maquoketa; thence on said main line, running 
as near as practicable to the Forty-second Parallel; across the said 
State of Iowa to the Missouri River; from the city of Dubuque to 
a point on the Missouri River near Sioux City, with a branch from 
the mouth of the Tete des Morts, to the nearest point on said road, 
to be completed as soon as the main road is completed to that 
point, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers, 
for six sections in width, on each side of said roads. It was also 
provided that if it should appear, when the lines of those roads 
were definitely fixed, that the United States had sold, or right of 
pre-emption had attached to any portion of said land, the State 
was authorized to select a quantity equal thereto, in alternate sec- 
tions, or parts of sections, within fifteen miles of the line so lo- 
cated. The lands remaining to the United States within six 
miles on each side of said roads were not to be sold for less than 
the double mininum price of the public lands when sold, nor were 
any of said lands to become subject to private entry until they had 
been first offered at public sale at the increased price. 

Section 4 of the act provided that the lands granted to said State 
shall be disposed of by said State only in the manner following, 
that is to say: ''That a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred 
and twenty sections for each of said roads, and included within a 
continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads, may be 
sold; and when the Governor of said State shall certify to the Sec- 
retary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of 
said roads is completed, then another quantity of land hereby 



94 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

granted, not to exceed oue hundred and twenty sections for each 
of said roads having twenty continuous miles completed as afore- 
said, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of 
each of such roads, may be sold; and so from time to time until 
said roads are completed, and if any of said roads are not com- 
pleted within ten years, no further sale said shall be made, and the 
lands unsold shall revert to the United States." 

At a special session of the General Assembly of Iowa, by act ap- 
proved July 14, 1856, the grant was accepted and the lands were 
granted by the State to the several railroad companies named, pro- 
vided that the lines of their respective roads should be definitely 
fixed and located before April 1, 1857; and provided, further, that 
if either of said companies should fail to have seventy-five miles 
of road completed and equipped by the 1st day of December, 1859, 
and its entire road completed by December 1, 1865, it should be 
competent for the State of Iowa to resume all rights to lands re- 
maining undisposed of by the company so failing. 

The railroad companies, with the single exception of the Iowa 
Central Air Line, accepted the several grants in accordance with 
the provisions of the above act, located their respective roads and 
selected their lands. The grant to the Iowa Central was again 
granted to the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad Company, 
which accepted it. 

By act, approved April 7, 1862, the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail- 
road Company was required to execute a release to the State of 
certain swamp and school lands, included within the limits of its 
grant, in compensation for an extension of the time fixed for the 
completion of its road. 

A careful examination of the act of Congress does not reveal 
any special reference to railroad companies. The lands were 
granted to the State, and the act evidently contemplated the sale 
of them by the State, and the appropriation of the proceeds to aid 
in the construction of certain lines of railroad within its limits. 
Section 4 of the act clearly defines the authority of the State in 
disposing of the lands. 

Lists of all the lands embraced by the grant were made, and cer- 
tified to the State by the proper authorities. Under an act of Con- 
gress approved August 3, 1864, entitled, '"'An act to vest in the 
several States and Territories the title i)i fee of the tabids ivhich 
have been or may be certified to them,''' these certified lists, the 
originals of which are filed in the General Land Oflice, conveyed 
to the State ''the fee simple title to all the lands embraced in such 
lists that are of the character contemplated" by the terms of the 
act making the grant, and "intended to be granted thereby; but 
where lands embraced in such lists are not of the character em- 
braced by such act of Congress, and were not intended to be 
granted thereby, said lists, so far as these lands are concerned, 
shall be perfectly null and void; and no right, title, claim or in- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 95 

terest shall be conveyed thereby.'" Those certified lists made 
under the act of May 15, 1S56, were forty-three in number, viz. : For 
the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, nine; for the Missis- 
sippi & Missouri Railroad, eleven; for the Iowa Central Air Line, 
thirteen; and for the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, ten. The 
lands thus approved to the State were as follows: 

Burlington & Missouri River R. R 287,095.34 acres 

Mississippi & Missouri River R . R 774,674.36 ' ' 

Cedar Rapids & Missouri River R. R 775,454.19 ' ' 

Dubuque & Sioux City R. R 1,226,558.32 " 

A portion of these had been selected as swamp lands by the 
State, under the act of September 28, 1850, aud these, by the terms 
of the act of August 3, 1854, could not be turned over to the rail- 
roads unless the claim of the State to them as swamp was first re- 
jected. It was not possible to determine from the records of the 
State Land Office the extent of the conflicting claims arising un- 
der the two grants, as copies of the swamp land selections in some 
of the counties were not filed of record. The Commissioner of the 
General Land Office, however, prepared lists of the lands claimed 
by the State as swamp under the act of September 28, 1850, and 
also claimed by the railroad companies under act of May 15, 1856, 
amounting to 553,293.33 acres, the claim to which as swamp had 
been rejected by the Department. These were consequently cer- 
tified the State as railroad lands. There was no mode other than 
the act of July, 1856, prescribed for transferring the title to these 
lands from the State to the companies. The courts had decided 
that, for the purposes of the grant, the lands belonged to the 
State, and to her the companies should look for their titles. It was 
generally accepted that the act of the Legislature of July, 1856, 
was all that was necessary to complete the transfer of title. It was 
assumed that all the rights and powers conferred upon the State by 
the act of Congress of May 14, 1856, were by the act of the Gren- 
eral Assembly transferred to the companies; in other words that* 
it was designed to put the companies in the place of the State as 
the grantees from Congress — and, therefore, that which perfected 
the title thereto to the State perfected the title to the companies 
by virtue of the act of July, 1856. One of the companies, how- 
ever, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, was not 
entirely satisfied with this construction. Its managers thought 
that some further and specific action of the State authorities in ad- 
dition to the act of the Legislature was necessary to complete their 
title. This induced Gov. Lowe to attach to the certified lists his 
official certificate, under the broad seal of the State. On the 9th 
of November, 1859, the Governor thus certified to them (com- 
mencing at the Missouri River) 187,207.44 acres, and December 
27th, 43,775.70 acres, an aggregate of 231,073.14 acres. These 
were the only lands under the grant that were certified by the 
State authorities with any design of perfecting the title already 



96 HISTORY OF lUWA. 

vested in the company by the act of July, 1856. The lists which 
were afterward furnished to the company were simply certified by 
the Governor as being correct copies of the lists received by the 
State from the United States General Land Office. These subse- 
quent lists embraced lands that had been claimed by the State 
nnder the Swamp Land Grant. 

It was urged against the claim of the Companies that the effect 
of the act of the Legislature was simply to substitute them for the 
State as parties to the grant. 1st. That the lands w- ere granted 
to the State to be held in trust for the accomplishment of a specific 
purpose, and therefore the State could not part with the title until 
that purpose should have been accomplished. 2d. That it was not 
the intention of the act of July 14, 185G, to deprive the State of 
the control of the lands, but on the contrary that she should retain 
supervision of them and the right to withdraw all rights and 
powers and resume the title conditionally conferred by that act 
upon the companies in the event of their failure to complete their 
part of the contract. 3d. That the certified lists from the General 
Land Office vested the title in the State only by virtue of the act 
of Congress approved Augusts, 1854. The State Land Office held 
that the proper construction of the act of July 14, 1856, when ac- 
cepted by the companies was that it became a conditional contract 
that might ripen into a positive sale of the lands as from time to 
time the work should progress, and as the State thereby became 
authorized by the express terms of the grant to sell them. 

This appears to have been the correct construction of the act, 
but by a subsequent act of Congress, approved June 2, 1864, 
amending the act of 1856, the terms of the grant were changed, 
and numerous controversies arose between the companies and the 
State 

The ostensible purpose of this additional act was to allow the 
Davenport & Council Bluifs Railroad "to modify or change the 
"location of the uncompleted portion of its line," to run through 
the town of Newton, Jasper county, or as nearly as practicable to 
that point. The original grant had been made to the State to aid 
in the construction of railroads within its limits, and not to the 
companies, but Congress, in 1864, appears to have been utterly ig- 
norant of what had been done under the act of 1856, or, if not, 
to have utterly disregarded it. The State had accepted the origin- 
al grant. The Secretary of the Interior had already certified to 
the State all the lauds intended to be included in the grant within 
fifteen miles of the lines of the several railroads. It will be re- 
membered that section 4, of the act of May 15, 1856, specifies the 
manner of sale of these lands from time to time as work on the 
railroads should progress, and also provided that "if any of said 
roads are not completed within ten years, no further sale shall be 
made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States.'''' 
Having vested the title to these lands in trust, in the State of Iowa, 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 97 

it is plain that until the expiration of the ten years there could be 
no reversion, and the State, not the United States, must control 
them until the grant should expire by limitation. The United 
States authorities could not rightfully require the Secretary of 
the Interior to certify directly to the companies any portion of the 
lands already certified to the State. And yet Congress, by its act 
of June 2, 1864, provided that whenever the Davenport & Council 
Bluffs Railroad Company should file in the General Laud Office, at 
Washington, a map definitely showing such new location, the 
Secretary of the Interior should cause to be certified and conveyed 
to said company, from time to time, as the road progressed, out of 
any of the lands belonging to the United States, not sold, reserved 
or otherwise disposed of, or to which a pre-emption claim or right 
of homestead had not attached, and on Avhich a bona fide settle- 
ment and ijnprovement had not been made under color of title de- 
rived from the United States or froui the State of Iowa, within 
six miles of such newly located line, an amount of land per mile 
equal to that originally authorized to be granted to aid in the 
construction of said road by the act to which this was an amend- 
ment. 

The term "out of any lands belonging to the United States, not 
sold, reserved or otherwise disposed of, etc.," would seem to indi- 
cate that Congress did intend to grant lands already granted, but 
when it declared that the Company should have an amount per 
mile equal to that originally authorized to be granted, it is plain 
that the framers of the bill were ignorant of the real terms of the 
original grant, or that they designed that the United States should 
resume the title it had already parted with two years before the 
lands could revert to the United States under the original act, 
which was not repealed. 

A similar change was made in relation to the Cedar Rapids & 
Missouri Railroad, and dictated the conveyance of lands in a 
similar manner. 

Like provision was made for the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail- 
road, and the Company was permitted to change the location of 
its line between Fort Dodge and Sioux City, so as to secure the 
best route between those points; but this change of location was 
not to impair the right to the land granted in the original act, 
nor did it change the location of those lands. 

By the same act, the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company 
was authorized to transfer and assign all or any part of the grant 
to any other company or person, "if, in the opinion of said Com- 
pany, the construction of said railroad across the State of Iowa 
would be thereby sooner and more satisfactorily completed; but 
such assignee should not in any case be released from the liabili- 
ties and conditions accompanying this grant, nor acquire perfect 
title in any other manner than the same would have been ac- 
quired by the original grantee." 



98 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

Still further, the Burlingjton & Missouri River Railroad was not 
forgotten, and was, by the same act, empowered to receive an 
amount of land per mile equal to that mentioned in the original 
act, and if that could not be found within the limits of six miles 
from the line of said road, then such selection might be made 
along such line within twenty miles thereof out of any public 
lands belonging to the United States, not sold, reserved or other- 
wise disposed of, or to which a pre-emption claim or right of 
homestead had not attached. 

Those acts of Congress, which evidently originated in the 
•'lobby," occasioned much controversy and trouble. The Depart- 
ment of the Interior, however, recognizing the fact that when the 
Secretary had certified the lands to the State, under the act of 
1856, that act divested the United States of title, under the vest- 
ing act of August, 1854, refused to review its action, and also re- 
fused to order any and all investigations for establishing adverse 
claims (except in pre-emption cases), on the ground that the 
United States had parted with the title, and, therefore, could ex- 
ercise no control over the land. 

May 12, 1864, before the passage of the amendatory act above 
described. Congress granted to the State of Iowa, to aid in the 
construction of a railroad from McGregor to Sioux City, and for 
the benefit of the McGrregor Western Railroad Company every 
alternate section of land, designated by odd numbers, for ten 
sections in width on each side of the proposed road, reserving the 
right to substitute other lands, whenever it was found that the 
grant infringed upon pre-empted lands, or on lands that had been 
reserved or disposed of for any other purpose. In such cases, the 
Secretary of the Interior was instructed to select, in lieu, lands 
belonging to the United States lying nearest to the limits specified. 

X. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM LAND. 

An Agricultural College and Model Farm was established by 
act of the General Assembly, approved March 22, 1858. By the 
eleventh section of the act, the proceeds of the five-section grant 
made for the purpose of aiding in the erection of public buildings 
was appropriated, subject to the approval of Congress, together 
with all lands that Congress might thereafter grant to the State 
for the purpose for the benefit of the institution. On the 23d of 
March, by joint resolution, the Legislature asked the consent of 
Congress to the proposed transfer. By act approved July 11, 
1862, Congress removed the restrictions imposed in the ''Five- 
section grant," and authorized the General Assembly to make 
such disposition of the lands as should be deemed best for the in- 
terests of the State. By these several acts the five sections of 
land in Jasper County certified to the State to aid in the erection 
of public buildings under the act of March 3, 1845, entitled: "An 
act supplemental to the act for the admission of the States of 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 99 

Iowa and Florida into the Union," were fully appropriated for the 
benefit of the Iowa Agricultural College and Farm. The institu- 
tion is located in Story County. Seven hundred and twenty-one 
acres in that and two hundred in Boone County were donated to 
it by individuals interested in the success of the enterprise. 

By act of Congress approved^July 2, 1852, an appropriation was 
made to each State and Territory of 30,000 acres for each Sena- 
tor and Representative in Congress to which, by the apportion- 
ment under the census of 1850, they were respectfully entitled. 
This grant was made for the purpose of endowing colleges of ag- 
riculture and mechanic arts. 

Iowa accepted this grant by an act passed at an extra session of 
its Legislature, approved Sept 11, 1862, entitled: "An act to ac- 
cept of the grant, and carry into execution the trust conferred 
upon the State of Iowa by an act of Congress entitled 'An act 
granting public lands to the several States and Territories which 
may provide colleges for the benefit of agricultural and the me- 
chanic arts, approved July 2, 1862." This act made it the duty 
of the Grovernor to appoint an agent to select and locate the lands, 
and provided that none should be selected that were claimed by 
any county as swamp lands. The agent was required to make re- 
port of his doings to the Grovernor, who was instructed to submit 
the list of selections to the Board of Trustees of the Agricultural 
College for their approval. One thousand dollars were appropri- 
ated to carry the law into effect. The State having two Senators and 
six Representatives in Congress, was entitled to 240,000 acres of 
land under this grant, for the purpose of establishing and main- 
taining an Agricultural College. Peter Melendy, Esq., of Black 
Hawk County, was appointed to make the selections, and during 
August, September and December, 1863, located them in the Fort 
Dodge, Des Moines and Sioux City Land Districts. December 8, 
1864, these selections were certified by the Commissioner of the 
General land Office, and were approved to the State by the Secre- 
tary of the Interior December 13, 1864. The title to these lands 
were vested in the State in fee simple, and conflicted with no other 
claims under other grants. 

The agricultural lands were approved to the State as 240,000.96 
acres; but 35,691.66 acres were located within railroad limits, 
which were computed at the rate of two acres for one, the actual 
amount of land approved to the State under this grant was only 
204,309.30 acres, located as follows: 

In Des Moines Land District 6,804.96 acres. 

In Sioux City Land District 59,025.37 " 

In Fort Dodge Land District 138,478.97 ' ' 

By act of the General Assembly, approved March 29, 1864, en- 
titled, "An act authorizing the Trustees of the Iowa State Agri- 
cultural College and Farm, to sell all lands acquired, granted, do- 
nated or appropriated for the benfit of said College, and to make 

L«f€. 



100 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

ail- investment o£ the proceeds thereof," all these lands were 
granted to the Agricultural College and Farm, and the Trustees 
were authorized to take possession and sell or lease them. There 
was then under the control of the Trustees, lands as follows: 

Under the act of July 2, 1852 304,309.30 acres. 

Of the five-section grant 3,200.00 " 

Lands donated in Story County 721.00 " 

Lands donated irr Boone County 200.00 " 

Total 208,430.30 acres.. 

The Trustees opened an ofhce at Fort Dodge, and appointed 
Hon. G. W. Bassett their agent for the sale of these lands. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The germ of the free public school S3^stera of Iowa, which now 
ranks second to none in the United States, was planted by the 
first settlers. They had migrated to the "Beautiful Land" from 
other and older States, where the common school system had been 
tested by many years' experience, bringing with them some 
knowledge of its advantages, which they determined should be en- 
joyed by the children of the land of their adoption. The system 
thus planted was expanded and improved in the broad fields of 
the West, until now it is justly considered one of the most com- 
plete, comprehensive and liberal in the country. 

Nor is it to be wondered at Avhen it is remembered humble log 
school houses were built almost as soon as the log cabin of the 
earliest settlers were occupied by their brave builders. In the lead 
mining regions of the State, the first to be occupied by the white 
race, the hardy pioneers provided the means for the education of 
their children even before they had comfortable dwellings for their 
families. School teachers Avere among the first immigrants to 
Iowa. Wherever a little settlement was made, the school house 
was the first united public act of the settlers; and the rude primi- 
tive structures of the early time only disappeared when the com- 
munities had increased in population and wealth, and were able to 
replace them with more commodious and comfortable buildings. 
Perhaps in no single instance has the magnificent progress of the 
State of Iowa been more marked and rapid than in her common 
school system and in her school houses, which, long since, super- 
ceded the log cabins of the first settlers. To-day, the school houses 
which everywhere dot the broad and fertile prairies of Iowa are 
unsurpassed by those of any other State in the great Union. More 
especially is this true in all her cities and villages, \yhere liberal 
and lavish appropriations have been voted, by a generous people, 
for the erection of large comniodious and elegant buildings, fur- 
nished with all the modern improvements, and costing from $10,- 
000 to $60,000 each. The people of the State have expended 
more than $10,000,000 for the erection of public school buildings. 



\ 



HISTOKY OF IOWA. 101 

The first house erected in Iowa was a log cabin at Dubuque, 
built by James L. Langworthy and a few other miners, in the 
Autumn of 1833. 

Mrs. Caroline D3xter commenced teaching in Dubuque in March, 
1836. She was the first female teacher there, and probably the 
first in Iowa. The first tax for the sujjport of schools at Dubuque 
was levied in 1810. 

Among the first buildings erected at Burlington was a commod- 
ious log school house in 1834, in which Mr. Johnson Piersou 
taught the first school in the Winter of 1834-5. 

The first school in Muscatine County was taught by George 
Bumgardner, in the Spring of 1837, and in 1839, a log school 
house was erected in Muscatine, which served for a long time for 
school house, church and public hall. The first school in Daven- 
port was taught in 1838. In Fairfield Miss Clarissa Sawyer. 
James F. Chambers and Mrs. Reed taught school in 1839. 

When the site of Iowa City was selected as the capital of the 
Territory of Iowa, in May, 1839, it was a perfect wilderness. The 
first sale of lots took place August 18, 1839, and before January 
1, 1840, about twenty families had settled within the limits of the 
town; and during the same year, Mr. Jesse Berry opened a school 
in a small frame building he had erected, on what is now College 
street. 

The first settlement in Monroe County was made in 1848, by 
Mr. John R. Cray, about two miles from the present site of Ed- 
dy ville; and in the Summer of 1844, a log school house was built, 
and the first school was opened. About a year after the first cab- 
in was built at Oskaloosa, a log school house was built. 

At Fort Des Moines, now the Capital of the State, the first 
school was taught in the winter of 1846-7. 

The first school in Pottawattamie County was opened at Coun- 
cil Point, prior to 1849. 

The first school in Decorah was taught in 1853. In Osceola, the 
first school was opened by Mr. D. W. Scoville. The first. school 
at Fort Dodge was taught in 1855, by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since 
(jovernor of the State. In Crawford County the first school 
house was built in Mason's Grove in 1856, and Morris McHenry 
first occupied it as teacher. 

During the first twenty years of the history of Iowa, the log 
school houses prevailed, and in 1861, there were 893 of these 
primitive structures in use for school purposes in the State. Since 
that time they have been gradually disappearing. In 1805, there 
were 79G; in 1870, 330; and in 1875, 121. 

Iowa Territory was created July 3, 1838. January 1, 1839, the 
Territorial Legislature passed an act providing that ''there shall 
be established a common school, or schools, in each of the coun- 
ties in this Territory, which shall be open and free for every class 
of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one yoars." 



102 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

The second section of the act provided that "the County Board 
shall, from time to time, form such districts in their respective 
counties whenever a petition may be presented for the purpose by a 
majority of the voters resident within such contemplated district." 
These districts were governed by boards of trustees, usually of 
three persons; each district was required to maintain school at 
least three months in every year; and later, laws were enacted 
providing for county school taxes for the payment of teachers, 
and that whatever additional sum might be required should be 
assessed upon the parents sending, in proportion to the length of 
time sent. 

AVhen Iowa Territory became a State, in 1846, with a popula- 
tion of 100,000 and with 20,000 pupils within its limits, about 
four hundred school districts had been organized. In 1850, there 
were 1,200, and in 1857, the number had increased to 3,265. 

In March, 1858, the Seventh General Assembly enacted that 
"each civil township is declared a school district," and provided 
that these should be divided into sub-districts. This law went in- 
to force March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of school dis- 
tricts from about 3,500 to less than 900. 

The change of school organization resulted in a very material 
reduction of the expenditures for the compensation of District 
Secretaries and Treasurers. An effort was made for several years, 
from 1867 to 1872, to abolish the sub-district system. The Legis.- 
lature of 1870, provided for the formation of independent districts 
from the sub-districts of district townships. The system of 
graded schools was inaugurated in 1849; and new schools, in which 
more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded. 

The first official mention of Teachers' Institutes in the educa- 
tional records of Iowa, occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas 
H. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850. 

In March, 1858, an act was passed authorizing the holding of 
Teachers' Institutes for periods not less than six working days, 
whenever not less than thirty teachers should desire. The Super- 
intendent was authorized to expend not exceeding $100 for any 
one Institute, to be paid out by the County Superintendent as the 
Institute might direct for teachers and lecturers, and one thou- 
sand dollars was appropriated to defray the expenses of these In- 
stitutes. 

The Board of Education at its first session, commencing Decem- 
ber 6, 1858, enacted a code of school laws which retained the ex- 
isting provisions for Teachers' Institutes. In March, 1860, the 
General Assembly amended the act of the Board by appropriating 
"a sum not exceeding fifty dollars annually for one such Institute, 
held as provided by law in each county." 

By act approved March 19, 1874, Normal Institutes were estab- 
lished in each county, to be held annually by the County Superin- 
tendent, and in 1876 the Sixteenth General Assembly established 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 103 

the first permanent State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black 
Hawk County, appropriating the building and property of the 
Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place for that purpose. 

The public school system of Iowa is admirably organized, and if 
the various officers who are entrusted with the educational inter- 
ests of the commonwealth are faithful and competent, should and 
will constantly improve. 

"The public schools are supported by funds arising from several 
sources. The sixteenth section of every Congressional Township 
was set apart by the General Government for school purposes, be- 
ing one-thirty-sixth part of all of the lands of the State. The 
minimum price of these lands was fixed at one dollar and tAventy- 
five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to 
the State of five hundred thousand acres, and an appropriation of 
five per cent, on all the sales of public lands to the school fund. 
The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all 
lands which escheat to it; the proceeds of all fines for the vio- 
lation of the licjuor and criminal laws. The money derived from 
these sources constitutes the permanent school fund of the State, 
Avhich cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The penalties 
collected by the courts for fines and forfeits go to the school fund 
in the counties where collected. The proceeds of the sale of lands 
and the five per cent, fund go into the State Treasury, and the 
State distributes these proceeds to the several counties according to 
their request, and the counties loan the money to individuals for 
long terms at eight per cent, interest, on security of land valued 
at three times the amount of the loan, exclusive of all buildings 
and improvements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid 
into the State Treasury, and becomes the available school fund of 
the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all mone}^ 
so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to the school 
fund for all moneys transferred to the counties. The interest on 
these loans is apportioned by the State Auditor semi-annually to 
the several counties of the State, in proportion to the number of 
persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The 
counties also levy an annual tax for school purposes, which is ap- 
portioned to the several district townships in the same way. A 
district tax is also levied for the same purpose. The money aris- 
ing from these several sources constitutes the support of the pub- 
lic schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the 
State to afi'ord from six to nine months' school each year." 

The taxes levied for the support of schools are self-imposed. 
Under the admirable school laws of the State, no taxes can be 
legally assessed or collected for the erection of school houses until 
they have been ordered by the election of the district at a school 
meeting legally called. The school houses of Iowa are the pride 
of the State and an honor to the people. If they have been some- 
times built at a prodigal expense, the tax-payers have no one to 



104 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

blame but themselves. The teachers' and contingent funds are 
determined by the Directors, under certain legal restrictions. 
These boards are elected annually, except in the independent dis- 
tricts, in which the board may be entirely changed every three 
years. The only exception to this mode of levying taxes for sup- 
port of schools is the county school tax, which is determined by 
the County Board of Supervisors. The tax is from one to three 
mills on the dollar; usually, however, but one. 

In his admirable message to the General Assembly, just previous 
to retiring from the Gubernatorial chair. Gov. Gear has the follow- 
ing to say concerning the public schools of Iowa: 

''The number of school children reported is 594,750. Of this 
number 384,192 are, by approximation, between the ages of six 
and sixteen years. The number of all ages enrolled in the 
schools is 431,513, which shows that much the greater proportion 
of children of school age avail themselves of the benefits of our 
educational system. The average attendance is 254,088. The 
schools of the State have been in session, on an average, 148 
days. 

"There is, doubtless, quite a per centage of children who attend 
schools other than those of a public character. Yet the figures I 
have quoted show clearly that very many children, through the 
negligence or unwillingness of parents, do not attend school at all, 
but are in a fair way to grow up in ignorance. I, therefore, earn- 
estly suggest that you consider the expediency of enacting a com- 
pulsory educational law, which should require attendance upon 
schools of some kind, either public or private. To me it does 
seem as if the State shall not have done her full duty by the 
children, until she shall have completed her educational system 
by some such enactment. 

"The interest in the normal institutes is maintained, and, be- 
yond doubt, they render great aid in training the teachers who 
attend them. 

"The receipts for all school purposes throughout the State were 
$5,006,023. 60, and the expenditures 15,129,279.49; but of these 
receipts and expenditures about $400,000 was of money borrowed 
to refund outstanding bonds at lower rates of interest. 

"The amount on hand aggregated, at the end of the fiscal year, 
$2,653,356.55. This sum is, in my judgment, much larger than 
the necessities of the schools require, and it would be well to im- 
pose some check to prevent an excessive or unnecessary levy of 
taxes for school purposes." 

The significance of such facts as these is unmistakable. Such 
lavish expenditures can only be accounted for by the liberality 
.and public spirit of the people, all of whom manifest their love 
of popular education and their faith in the public schools by the 
annual dedication to their support of more than one per cent, of 
their entire taxable property; this too, uninterruptedly through a 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 105 

series of years, conimencing in the midst of a Avar which taxed 
their energies and resources to the extreme, and continuing 
through years of general depression in business — years of moder- 
ate yield of produce, of discouragingly low prices, and even amid 
the scanty surrounding and privations of pioneer life. Few hu- 
man enterprises have a grander significance or give evidence of a 
more noble purpose than the generous contributions from the 
scanty resources of the pioneer for the purpose of public educa- 
tion. 

POLITICAL RECORD. 

TERKITORIAL OFFICERS. 

Governors — Robert Lucas, 1838-41 ; John Chambers, 18'41-45; 
James Clarke, 1845. 

Secretaries — William B. Conway, 1838, died 1839; James Clarke, 
1839; 0. H. W. Stull, 1841; Samuel J. Burr, 1843; Jesse Wil- 
liams, 1845. 

Auditors — Jesse Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843; Robert 
M. Secrest, 1845. 

Treasurers — Thornton Bayliss, 1839; Morgan Reno, 1840. 

Judges — Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams, 
1838, Thomas S. Wilson, 1838. 

Presidents of Council — Jesse B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hem- 
stead, 1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker, 
1841-2; John D. Elbert, 1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843-4; S. Clinton 
Hastings, 1845; Stephen Hemstead, 1845-6. 

Speakers of the House — William H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward 
Johnston, 1839-40; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner Lewis, 1841-2; 
James M. Morgan, 1842-3; James P. Carleton 1843-4; James M. 
Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary, 1845-6. • 

First Constitutional Convention^ 1844 — Shepherd Leffler, Presi- 
dent; George S. Hampton, Secretary. 

Second Constitutional Convention^ 1846 — Enos Lowe, President; 
William Thompson, Secretary. 

OFFICERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 

Governors— A.\iB&\ Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hemstead, 
1850 to 1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858; Ralph P. Lowe, 
1858 to 1860; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William M. 
Stone, 1864 to 1868; Samuel Merrill, 1868 to 1872; Cvrus C. Car- 
penter, 1872 to 1876; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876 to 1877; Joshua 
G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878; John H. Gear, 1878 to 1882; 
Buren R. Sherman, 1882 to— 

Lieutenant Governors — Office created by the new Constitution, 
September 3, 1857— Oran Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas J. Rush, 
1860-1; John R Needham, 1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5; 
Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7; John Scott, 1868-9; M. M. Walden, 



106 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5; Joshua G. 
Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-82; 0. H. Manning, 
1882 to—. 

Secretaries of State — Elisha Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 4, 
1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec 2, 1850; George W. 
McCleary, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 2, 1856; Elijah Sells, Dec. 1, 1856, 
to Jan 5, 1863; James Wright, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Ed. 
Wright, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young, Jan 6, 
1873, to 1879; J. A. T; Hull, 1879 to—. 

Auditors of State— Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846 to Dec. 2, 1850; 
William Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens, 
Dec. 4, 1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee, Sept. 22, 1855 to 
Jan. 3 1859; Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859, to 1865; John A. Elliot, 
1865 to 1871; John Russell, 1871 to 1875; Buren R. Sherman, 
1875 to 1881; W. V. Lucas, 1881 to—. 

Treasurers of State— Mor^aa Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 
1850; Israel Ki'ster, Dec 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1852; Martin L. Mor- 
ris, Dec. 4, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones 1859 to 1868; 
William H. Holmes, 1863 to 1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to 
1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877; George W. Bemis, 1877 to 
1881; Edwin G. Conger, 1881 to—. 

Superintendents of Public Instruction — Office created in 1847 — 
James Harlan, June 5, 1845 (Supreme Court decided election void); 
Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May 23, 1844, to June 7, 1854; James D. 
Eads, 1854-7; Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857; Maturin L. 
Fisher, 1857 to Dec. 1858, when the office was abolished and the 
duties of the office devolved upon the Secretary of the Board of 
Education. 

Secretaries of the Board of Education — Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 
1859—1863; Oran Faville, Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March 
23, 1864. 

Superintendents of Public Instruction — Office re-created March 
23, 1864— Oran Faville, March 28, 1864, resigned March 1, 1867; 
D. Franklin Wells, March 4, 1879, to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissell, 
1870 to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1877; Carl ^\ . von 
Coelln, 1877 to 1882: J. W. Akers, 1882 to — . 

State Binders — Office created February 21, 1845 — William M. 
Coles, May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859; Frank M. Mills, 1859 to 
1867; James S. Carter, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to 1874; 
H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1878; Matt Parrott, 1878 to — . 

Beqisters of the State Land Office — Anson Hart, May 5, 1855, 
to May 13, 1857; Theodore S. Parvin, May 13, 1857, to Jan. 3, 
1859; Amos B. Miller, Jan. 3, 1859, to October, 1862; Edwin 
Mitchell, Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan. 5, 1863; Josiah A. Harvey, Jan. 
5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Cyrus C. Carpenter, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan. 
1871; Aaron Brown, January, 1871, to January, 1875; David Se- 
cor, January, 1875, to 1879; J. K. Powers, 1879 to — . 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 107 

State Printers — Office created Jan. 3, 1840 — Garrett D. Palmer 
and Georcre Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; Wil- 
liam A. Hornish, 1853 (resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney & Dorr, 
1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857 
to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869; Frank M. Mills, 1869 
to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to 
1878; Frank M. Mills, 1878 to — . 

Adjutants General — Daniel S. Lee, 1851-5; Geo. W. McCleary, 
1855-7; Elijah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Ba- 
ker, 1861 to 1877; John H. Loolay, 1877 to 1879; W. L. Alexan- 
der, 1879 to — . 

Attorneys General — David C. Cloud, 1843-56; Samuel A. Rice, 
1856-60; Charles C. Nourse, 1861-4; Isaac L. Allen, 1865 (resigned 
January, 1866); Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 (died June 12, 1867); 
Henry O'Connor, 1867-72; Marsena El Cutts, 1872-6; John F. 
McJunkin, 1877 to 1881; Smith McPherson, 1881 to — . 

Presidents of the Senate— Thomas Baker, 1846-7; Thomas 
Hughes, 1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9; Enos Lowe, 1850-1; Wil- 
liam E. Leffingwell, 1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5; William 
W. Hamilton, 1856-7. Under the new Constitution, the Lieuten- 
ant Governor is President of the Senate. 

Speakers of the House — Jesse B. Brown, 1847-8; Smiley H. 
Bonhan, 1849-50; George Temple, 1851-2; James Grant, 1853-4; 
Reuben Noble, 1855-6; Samuel McFarlaj.d, 1856-7; Stephen B. 
Sheledy, 1858-9; John Edwards, 1860-1: Rush Clark, 1862-3; Ja- 
cob Butler, 1864-5; Ed. Wright, 1866-7: John Russell, 1868-9; 
Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-71; James Wilson, 1872-3; John H. Gear, 
1874-7; John Y. Stone, 1878-9; Lore Alford, 1880-1; G. R. Stra- 
ble, 1882 to — . 

New Constitutioml Convention^ 1859 — Francis Springer, Presi- 
dent; Thos. J. Saunders, Secretary. 

STATE OFFICERS, 1882. 

Buren R. Sherman, Governor; 0. H. Manning, Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor; John A. T. Hull, Secretary of State; William V. Lucas, Au- 
ditor of State; Edward H. Conger, Treasurer of State; James K. 
Powers, Register of State Land Office; W. L. Alexander, Adjutant 
General; Smith McPherson, Attorney General; Edward J. Holmes, 
Clerk of the Supreme Court; Jno. S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme 
Court; J. W. Akers, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Frank 
M. Mills, State Printer; Matt. Parrott, State Binder; Prof . Nathan 
R. Leonard, Superintendent of Weights and Measures; Mrs. S. B. 
Maxwell, State Librarian. 

THE JUDICIARY. 

SUPREME COURT OF IOWA, 1882. 

Chief Justice, Austin Adams, Dubuque; Associate Judges, Wil- 
liam H. Seevers, Oskaloosa; James D. Day, Sidney; James H. Roth- 
rock, Tipton ; Joseph M. Beck^ Fort Madison. 



108 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

DISTRICTS COURTS, 18S2. 

First Judicial District, Abraham H. Stutsman, Burlington; Sec- 
ond Judicial District, Edward L. Burton, OttumAva; Third Judicial 
District, R. C. Henry. Mount Ayr; Fourth Judicial District, Charles 
H. Lewis, Cherokee; Fifth Judicial District, "William H. McHenry, 
Des Moines; Sixth Judicial District, John C. Cook, Newton; Sev- 
enth Judicial District, AValter I. Hayes, Clinton; Eighth Judicial 
District, John Shane, Tinton; Ninth Judicial District. Sylvester 
Bagg, Waterloo; Tenth Judicial District, Ezekial E. Cooley, De- 
corah; Eleventh Judicial District, James W. McKenzie, Hampton; 
Twelfth Judicial District, Geo. W. Ruddick, Waverly; Thirteenth 
Judicial District, Joseph R. Reed, Council BlutFs: Fourteenth Ju- 
dicial District, Ed. R. Duffie, Sac City. 

CIRC§IT COURTS, 1882. 

First Judicial Circuit, First District, William J. Jeffries, Mt. 
Pleasant; Second Judicial Circuit, First District, Charles Phelps, 
Burlington; Second Judicial Circuit, H. C. Traverse, Bloomfield; 
Third Judicial Circuit. D. D. Gregory, Afton; Fourth Judicial 
Circuit, J. R. Zuver, Sioux City; First Judicial Circuit, Fifth 
District, Josiali Given, Des Moines; Second Judicial Circuit, 
Fifth District, Stephen A. Callvert, Adel; Sixth Judicial Circuit, 
W. R. Lewis, Montezuma; First Judicial Circuit, Seventh District, 
Charles W. Chase, Clinton; Second Judicial Circuit, Seventh Dis- 
trict, DeWitt C. Richman, Muscatine, Eighth Judicial Circuit, 
Christian Hedges, Marengo; Ninth Judicial Circuit, Benjamin W. 
Lacy, Dubuque; Tenth Judicial Circuit, Charles T. Granger, Wau- 
kon; Eleventh Judicial Circuit, D. D. Miracle, Webster City; 
Twelth Judicial Circuit, Robert G. Reineger, Charles City; Thir- 
teenth Judicial Circuit, C. F. Loofbourrow, Atlantic; Fourteenth 
Judicial Circuit, John N. Weaver. Algona. 



o^ 



CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

(The first General Assembly failed to elect Senators.) 
George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-1858; Augustus C. 
Dodge, Burlington, Dec. 7, 1S4S-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Jan. 6, 1855-1865; James W. Grimes, Burlington, Jan, 26, 
1858-died 1870; Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City, elected Jan. 13, 
1866, to fill vacancy caused bv resignation of James Harlan: James 
Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, March 4, 1866-1872; James B. Howell, 
Keokuk, elected Jan. 20, 1870, to fill vacancy caused by the death 
of J. W. Grimes — term expired March 3d; Geo. G. Wright, Des 
Moines, March 4, 1871-1877; William B. Allison, Dubuque, 
March 4, 1872; Samuel J. Kirkwood, March 4, 1877; James W. 
McDill, appointed to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of S. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. ' 109 

J. Kirkwood, in 18S1, aiul elected Jan. 1882, to fill the unexpired 
term; James F. Wilson, elected Jan. 1882, for the full term, be- 
{^inning March 4, 1883. 

MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

Twenty-ninth Congress — 181G to 1817. — S. Clinton Hastings; 
Shepherd Leffler. 

Thirtieth Congress— 1%^ to 1819.— First District, William 
Thompson; Second District, Shepherd Leffler. 

Thirty-first Conry res.?— 1819 to 1851.— First District, First Ses- 
sion, Wm. Thompson; unseated by the House of Representatives 
on a contest, and election remanded to the people. First District, 
Second Session, Daniel F. Miller. Second District, Shepherd 
Leffler. 

Thirty-second Conyress — 1851 to 1S53. — First District, Bern- 
hart Henn. Second District, Lincoln Clark. 

Thirty-third Congress — 1853 to 1855. — First District, Bernhart 
Henn. Second District, John P. Cook. 

Thirty-fourth Conyress — 1855 to 1857.— First District, Augustus 
Hall. Second District, James Thorington. 

Thirty-fifth Conyress — 1857 to 1859. — First District, Samuel 
R. Curtis. Second District, Timothy Davis, 

Thirty-sixth Conqress — 1859 to 186L — First District, Samuel 
R. Curtis. Second District, William Vandever. 

Thirty-seventh Conyress— l^Ql to 1863.— First District, First 
Session, Samuel R. Curtis.'*' First District. Second and Third Ses- 
sions, James F. Wilson. Second District, William Vandever. 

Thirty-eiyhth Conyress — 1863 to 1865. — First District, James 
F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price: Third District, William 
B. Allison; F'ourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell; Fifth District, 
John A. Kasson; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard. 

Thirty-ninth Conyress — 1865 to 1867. — First District, James 
F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William 
B. Allison; Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell; Fifth District, 
John A. Kasson; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard. 

Fortieth Conyress— ISQl to 1869.— First District, James F. 
AVilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District William B. 
Allison; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth District, 
GrenvJUeM. Dodge; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard. 

Forty-first^ Co7iyress—lSm to 1871— First District. George W. 
McCrary; Second District, William Smyth; Third District, 
William B. Allison; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth 
District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Charles Pomeroy. 



♦Vacated seat by acceptance of commission as Brigadier General, and J. F. Wilson 
chosen his successor. 



110 HISTORY OF IOWA. 

For(i/-.s('con(f Congress — 1871 to 1873 — Fiist District, George 
W. McCrarv; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District, 
W. G. Donnan; Fourth District, Madison M. Waldon; Fifth Dis- 
trict, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Jackson Orr. 

Forfij-fhird Congress— ISl'd to 1875— First District, George W. 
McCrary; Second" District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District, 
William G. Donnan; Fourth District, Henry 0. Pratt; Fifth Dis- 
trict, James Wilson; Sixth District, William Loughridge; Seventh 
District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; 
Ninth District, Jackson Orr. 

Fortij-fouiih Congress — 1875 to 1877. — First District. George 
W. McCrary, Second District; John Q. Tufts; Third District, L. 
L. Ainsworth; Fourth District, Henry 0. Pratt; Fifth District, 
James Wilson; Sixth District: Ezekiel S. Sampson: Seventh Dis- 
trict, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; Ninth 
District, Addison Oliver. 

Forty-fifth Congress— ISr^ to 1870.— First District. J. C.Stone; 
Second District, 'Hiram Price; Third District, T. W. Burdick; 
Fourth District, H. C. Deering; Fifth District, Rush Clark; Sixth 
District, E. S. Sampson; Seventh District, H. J. B. Cummings; 
Eighth District, W. F. Sapp; Ninth District, A. Oliver. 

Forty-sixth Congress — 1879 to 1881. — First District, Moses A. 
McCoid; Second District. Hiram Price; Third District, Thomas 
Updegraff; Fourth District, Natkaniel C. Deering; Fifth District, 
W. G. Thompson; Sixth District, James B. Weaver; Seventh Dis- 
trict, Edward H. Gillette; Eighth District, William F. Sapp; 
Ninth District, Cyrus C. Carpenter. 

Forty-seventh Congress— ISSl to 1883.— First District Moses A. 
McCoid; Second District, Sewall S. Farwell; Third District, 
Thomas Updegraflf': Fourth District, Nathaniel C. Deering: Fifth 
District, W. G. Thompson; Sixth District, Madison E. Cutts, 
Seventh District. John A. Kasson; Eighth District, William P. 
Hepburn; Ninth District, Cyrus C. Carpenter. 

WAR RECORD. 

The State of Iowa may well be proud of her record during the 
War of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865. ^ The following brief 
but comprehensive sketch of the history she made during that 
trying period, is largely from the pen of Col. A. P. Wood, of Du- 
buque, the author of ''The History of Iowa and the War," one of 
the best works of the kind yet written. 

"Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made 
on her by the General Government, in the courage and constancy 
of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with 
which her civil administration was conducted during the trying 
period covered by the War of the Rebellion, Iowa proved herself 
the peer of any lnyal State. The proclamation of her Governor, 
responsive to that oi the President, calling for volunteers to com- 



HISTORY OF IOWA. Ill 

pose her First Regiment, was issued on the fourth day after the 
fall of Sumter. At the end of only a single week, men enough 
were reported to be in quarters (mostly in the vicinity of their 
own homes) to fill the regiment. These, however, were hardly 
more than a tithe '^f the number Avho had been offered by com- 
pany commanders for acceptance under the President's call. So 
urgent were these offers that the Governor requested (on the 2-i:th. 
of April) permission to organize an additional regiment. While 
awaiting an answer to this request, he conditionally accepted a 
sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regi- 
ments. In a short time, he was notified that both of these would 
be accepted. Soon after the completion of the Second and Third * 
Regiments (which was near the close of May), the Adjutant Gen- 
eral of the State reported that upAvards of one hundred and sev- 
enty companies had been tendered to the Governor to serve against 
the enemies of the Union. 

"Much difficulty and considerable delay occurred in fitting these 
regiments for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit 
(not uniform) of clothing was extemporized — principall}^ by the 
volunteered labor of loyal women in the different towns — from 
material of various colors and qualities, obtained Avithinthe limits 
of the State. The same was done in part for the Second Infantry. 
Meantime, an extra session of the General Assembly had been 
called by the Governor, to convene on the 15th of May. With 
but little delay, that body authorized a loan of $800,000 to meet 
the extraordinary expenses incurred, and to be incurred, by the 
Executive Department, in consequence of the new emergency. A 
wealthy merchant of the State (ex-Governor Merrill, then a resi- 
dent of McGregor) immediately took from the Governor a con- 
tract to supply a complete outfit of clothing for the tliree regi- 
ments organized, agreeing to receive, should the Governor so elect, 
his pay therefor in State bonds at par. This contract he executed 
to the letter, and a portion of the clothing (which was manufac- 
tured in Boston to his order) was delivered at Keokuk, the place 
at which the troops had rendezvoused, in exactly one month from 
the day on which the contract had been entered into. The re- 
mainder arrived only a few days later. This clothing was delivered 
to the regiment, but was subsequently condemned by the Govern- 
ment, for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been 
adopted as the color to be worn by the national troops.'' 

Other States also clothed their troops, sent forward under the 
first call of President Lincoln, with gray uniforms, but it was 
soon found that the Confederate forces were also clothed in gray, 
and that color was once abandoned by the Union troops. If both 
armies were clothed alike, annoying if not fatal mistakes were 
liable to be made. 

But while engaged in these efforts to discharge her whole duty, 
in common with all the other Union-loving States in the great 



112 HISTOKY OF IOWA. 

eiiiergem?v. Iowa wns compelled to make immediate and ample pro- 
vision for the protection of lier own borders, from threatened in- 
vasion on the south by the Secessionists of Missouri, and from 
incursions from the west and northwest by bands of hostile 
Indians, who were freed from the usual restraint imposed upon 
them by the presence of regular troops stationed at the frontier 
posts. These troops ai'e withdrawn to meet the greater and more 
pressing danger threatening the life of the nation at its very 
heart. 

To provide for the adecjuate defense of her borders from the 
ravages of both rebels in arms against the Government, and of 
the more irresistible foes from the AYestern plains, the Governor 
of the State was authorized to raise and equip two regiments of 
infantry, a squadron of cavalry (not less than live companies) and 
a battalion of artillery (not less than three companies). Only 
cavalry were enlisted for home defense, however, '•hut." saysCoL 
Wood, "in times of special danger, or when calls were made by 
the Unionists of Northern Missouri for assistance against their 
disloyal enemies, large numbers of militia on foot often turned 
out. and remained in the field until the necessitv for their ser- 
vices had passed. 

"The first order for the Iowa volunteers to move to the field 
was received on the 13th of June. It was issued by Gen. Lyon, 
then commanding the United States forces in Missouri. The 
First and Second Infantry immediately embarked in steamboats, 
and moved to Hannibal. Some two weeks later, the Third In- 
fantry was ordered to the same point. These three, together with 
many other of the earlier organized Iowa regiments, rendered 
their first field service in Missouri. The First Infantry formed 
a part of the little army with which Gen. Lyon moved on Spring- 
field, and fought the bloody battle of Wilson's Creek. It received 
unqualified praise for its gallant bearing on the field. In the fol- 
lowing month (September), the Third Iowa, with but very slight 
support, fought with honor the sanguinary eugagement of Blue 
Mills Landing: and in November, the Seventh Iowa, as a part of 
a force commanded by Gen. Grant, greatly distinguished itself in 
the battle of Belmont, where it poured out its blood like water — 
losing more than half the men it took into action. 

"The initial operations in which the battles referred to took 
place, were followed by the more important movements led by 
Gen. Grant, Gen. Curtis, of this state, and other commanders, 
which resulted in defeating the armies defending the chief 
strategic liijes he'd by the Confederates in Kentucky. Tennessee, 
Missouri and Arkansas, and compelling their withdrawal from 
much of the territory previously controlled by them in those 
States. In these and other movements, down to the grrand cul- 
minating campaign by which Vicksburg was captured and the 
Confederacy permanently severed on the line of the Mississippi 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 113 

River, Iowa troops took part in steadily increasing numbers. In 
the investment and siege of Vicksburg, the State was represented 
bv thirty regiments and two batteries, in addition to which, eight 
regiments and one battery were employed on the outposts of the 
besieging armv. The brilliancy of their exploits on the many 
fields where they served, won for them the highest meed of praise, 
both in military and civil circles. Multiplied were the terms in 
which expression was given to this sentiment, but these words of 
one of the journals of a neighboring State, 'The Iowa troops have 
been heroes among heroes,' embody the spirit of all. 

"In the veteran re-enlistments that disiiinguished the closing 
months of 1S63, above all other periods in the history of re-enlist- 
ments for the national armies, the Iowa three years' men (who 
were relatively more numerous than those of any other State) 
were prompt to set the example of volunteering for another term 
of equal length, thereby adding many thousands to the great army 
of those who gave this renewed and practical assurance that the 
cause of the Union should not be left without defenders. 

•'In all the important movements of 1864-65, by which the 
Confederacy was penetrated in every cjuarter, and its military 
power finally overthrown, the Iowa troops took part. Their 
drum-beat was heard on the banks of everv e;reat river of the 
South, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and everywhere they 
rendered the same faithful and devoted service, maintaining on 
all occasions their wonted reputation for valor in the field and en- 
durance on the march. 

"Two Iowa three-year cavalry regiments were employed during 
the whole term of service in the operations that were in progress 
from 1S63 to 1S66 against the hostile Indians of the western 
plains. A portion of these men were among the last of the vol- 
unteer troops to be mustered out of service. The State also sup- 
plied a considerable number of men to the navy, who took part in 
most of the naval operations prosecuted against the Confederate 
power on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and the rivers of the 
West. 

"The people of Iowa were early and constant workers in the 
sanitary field, and by their liberal gifts and personal eftbrts for the 
benefit of the soldiery, placed their State in front rank of those 
who became distinguished for their exhibition of patriotic benevo- 
lence during the period covered by the war. Agents appointed by 
the Governor were stationed at points convenient for rendering 
assistance to the sick and needy soldiers of the State, while others 
were employed in visiting from time to time, hospitals, camps and 
armies in the field, and doing whatever the circumstances rendered 
possible for the health and comfort of such of the Iowa soldiers 
as might be found there. 

•"Some of the benevolent people of the State early conceived 
the idea of establishing a Home for such of the children of! de- 



114 HISTOKT OF IOWA. 

ceased soldiers as might be left iu destitute circumstances. This 
idea first took form in in 1863, and in the following year a Home 
was opened at Farmington, Van Buren County, in a building 
leased for that purpose, and which soon became filled to its utmost 
capacity. The institution received liberal donations from the gen- 
eral public, and also from the soldiers iu the field. In 1865 it be- 
came necessary to provide increased accommodations for the large 
number of children who were seeking the benefits of its care. 
This was done by establishing a branch at Cedar Falls, in Black 
Hawk County, and by securing, during the same year, for the use 
of the parent Home, Camp Kinsman, near the city of Davenport. 
This property was soon afterward donated to the institution by 
act of Congress. 

"In 1866, in pursuance of a law enacted for that purpose, the 
Soldiers' Orphans' Home (which then contained about four hun- 
dred and fifty inmates) became a State institution, and thereafter 
the sums necessary for its support were appropriated from the 
State Treasury. A second branch was established at Glenwood, 
Mills county. Convenient tracts were secured and valuable im- 
provements made at the different points. Schools were also estab- 
lished and employments provided for such of the children as were 
of suitable age. In all ways the provision made for these wards 
of the State has been such as to challenge the approval of every 
benevolent mind. The number of children who have been in- 
mates of the Home from its foundation to the present time is con- 
siderably more than two thousand. 

"At the beginning of the war, the population of Iowa included 
about one hundred and fifty thousand men, presumably liable to 
render military service. The Sta^^e raised, for general service, 
thirty-nine regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and 
four companies of artillery, composed of three years ' men; one 
regiment of infantry, composed of three months' men; and four 
regiments and one battallion of infantry composed of one hundred 
days' men. The original enlistments in these various organiza- 
tions, including seventeen hundred and twenty-seven men raised 
by draft, numbered a little more than sixty-nine thousand. The 
re-enlistments, including upward of seven thousand veterans, 
numbered very nearly eight thousand. The enlistments in the 
regular army and navy, and organizations of other States, will, if 
added, raise the total to upward of eighty thousand. The number 
of men who, under special enlistments, and as militia, took part at 
different times in the operations on the exposed borders of the 
State, was probably as many as five thousand. 

"Iowa paid no bounty on account of the men she placed in the 
field. In some instances, toward the close of the war, bounty to 
a comparatively small amount was paid by cities and towns. On 
only one occasion — that of the call of July 18, 1864 — was a draft 
made in Iowa. This did not occur on account of her proper liabil- 



HISTOKY OF IOWA. 



115 



supply men ™f «%"^,^ . "^^ '^^^^^^^^^ GoTernment msisted on 

of 1 oVa states, older and larger in l-P"'-^™ aucl weaUh - 

rnd'ot €w%ral 0^ 1^^^^ of her bonds issued and 
soM dm'n ' t e wa? to provide the means for raising and equipping 
?rotps sen^t intrthe fi'eld, and to nieet the inevitable demands 
upon her treasury in consequence ot the war. ^ 

^T^MENT showing the numher of men furnished and casualities in loxca 
regiments during the War of the Eehelhon. 




1st Battery 
2d Battery. 
3d Battery 
4th Battery, 
IstCavalr 
2d Cavalry. 

3d Cavalry I ^097 

4th Cavalry, ' ^^^' 

5th Cavalry 
6th Cavalry 
7th Cavalry 

8th Cavalry 

9th Cavalry 

Sioux City Cavalry 

Co. A, nth Penn. Cavalry 

1st Infantry 

2d Infantry 

3d Infantry , 

2d and 3d Inf. Consohdated 

4th Infantry 

5th Infantry 

6th Infantry 

7th Infantry 



116 • 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 



Regiments. 



8th Infantry 

9th Infantry 

10th Infantry 

11th Infantry 

r2th Infantry 

13th Infantry 

14th Infantry 

14th Inf. Res. Batt. . . . / 

15th Infantry 

16th Infantry 

17th Infantry 

18th Infantry.... 

19th Infantry 

'JlOth Infantry 

21st Infiintry , 

22d Infantry , 

23cl Infantry , 

24th Infantry 

25th Infantry 

26th Infantry , 

27th Infantiy 

28th Infantry 

29th Infantry 

30th Infantry 

31st Infantry 

32d Infantry , 

33d Infantry 

34th Infantry 

34th Consolidated 

35th Infantry 

36th Infantry 

37th Infantry 

38th Infantry 

39th Infantry 

40th Inflmtry 

41st Infantry , 

44th Infantiy 

45th Infantiy 

46th Infantiy 

47th Infantry 

48th Infantry 

1st African Infantiy 

Totals 






1027 

1090 

1027 

1022 

981 

989 

840 

ii96 

918 
950 
875 
985 
925 
980 

1108 
961 
959 
995 
919 
940 
956 

1005 
978 
977 
925 
985 
953 

'984 
986 
914 
910 
933 
900 
294 
867 
912 
892 
884 
346 



56.364 



cc 


^ 




a it-, »; 


1 c 

Itie 




rt a 


:=.2 o 


o --^ 


^^^ 


761 


93 


973 


133 


739 


91 


610 


79 


768 


62 


852 


99 


526 


50 


11 




1029 


130 


819 


89 


614 


61 


449 


33 


562 


86 


359 


13 


531 


66 


634 


105 


570 


69 


761 


111 


564 


61 


562 


69 


530 


21 


696 


76 


511 


36 


646 


63 


540 


27 


589 


89 


580 


62 


561 


6 


72 


5 


510 


42 


619 


59 


503 


3 


431 


1 


406 


54 


361 


15 


17 




15 




22 


1 


28 


1 


47 




4 




383 


5 


30,394 


3,139 



O CO 



ft 



137 

208 
134 
148 
243 
182 
122 

i94 

217 

97 

109 

91 

130 

157 

126 

196 

197 

199 

204 

162 

180 

248 

233 

261 

203 

196 

228 

13 

182 

226 

141 

310 

119 

179 

2 

14 

17 

23 

45 

4 

331 



8,695 



History of Chickasaw County. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION ; CONTRASTS OF ThEN AND NoW ; GEOGRAPHY ; 

TopoGRAj'HY ; Geology ; Principal Productions, and Re- 



sources ; Railroad Facilities. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

Lessening each year, under the relentless hand of death, the lit- 
tle band of hardy pioneers, who first broke the way for civilization 
and planted the broad marks of progress on the virgin prairie of 
Chickasaw County, are fast passing away, and before they have all 
been gathered to their rest let us hasten and gather from their lips 
the tales of bygone days, when hardy pioneers, both men and wo- 
men, leaving the friendly shelter of the old home, pushed out into 
the domain of the wild beast and his scarce less wild brother the 
savage, and there essayed to carve them out a new home. 

Their bent forms, their furrowed brows and hoary hair, tell of 
the fierce battle with trial and hardship — the fight for life with 
penury and want, but the bright eye, the firm glance, tell that they 
conquered, as only a noble band of heroes could conquer, and they 
seem spared to sanctify the homes that they have founded in this 
domain of nature. Their deeds deserve a place in history, that 
will long survive the montiments of marble that must soon mark 
the i^lace where they will be at rest. Let us then gather the de- 
tails from them before they go, that we may honor them as we 
should. And here let us draw 

THE CONTRAST 

between the then and now. Although settled at a comparatively 



120 HISTORY OF OIIICKASAW COUNTY. 

late date this parallel seems startling, those who have lived quiet- 
ly upon their farms, which they settled when they first came, can 
hardly realize the change, having seen it grow up so gradually. 
But like the yesirs of man the country has been growing steadily 
on. Thirty-five years ago these now productive acres, these rich 
grazing lands and fertile farms, were l^ang an almost unbroken 
wilderness, the hunting ground and often the battle ground of the 
red Indian. 

The soil was rich and productive, but what sterling nerve and 
determination was required to make it a suitable habitation for 
man,and to reclaim to the uses of pivilization its virgin soil, verily, 
to turn the back on the older homes of our race and carve out a 
new one on the bosom of the prarics was no light task. No roads 
laid out or opened, and the settler was often compelled to go thirty 
or forty miles to mill, and happy was he if he had grist to grind at 
that. 

Agricultural and domestic implements were scarce and crude, 
and hard manual labor replaced them to a great extent. Contrast 
the difference between the rude appliances of those early days, 0, 
ye pioneers ! with the manifold labor-saving implements of to-day, 
both in housekeeping and husbandry.- The harvester with the 
scythe — ^the threshing machine with the flail — the sewing machine 
with its more humble sister the sewing needle, and so on, through 
all the long list, and then you can mark the change. 

Contrast tlie rude log school house,' which served its multiform 
purpose of school, church, court-house and often the only public 
building witliin the radius of a day's journey, with the more pre^ 
tentious churches, school-houses and county buildings of the*pres- 
ent day. 

In those earl}' days, "that tried men's souls," or at lea»t their 
nerve and back bone, no handy market was there, for the farm 
produce, nor convenient store where he could purchase all his 
needs called for, but a long journey over a dreary road, often ex- 
tending to 75 or 100 miles before he could reach a place advanced 
enough to boast of a buyer and seller of produce and merchandise, 
and his only conveyance the slow plodding oxen, or scarce more 
expeditious farm horse. Now the iron horse snorts almost at the 
very door, and towns and villages dot these boundless prairies, 
bringing in tlieir train all conveniences of civiliaed life, and even 



HISTORY OF CJIICKASyVW COUNTY. 121 

all tlie luxuries of the olden home he left in the bye gone days. 

But let us to the facts. 
The following facts as to the location, physical features, soil and 

drainage, and resources of Chickasaw County, are mainly takea 
from Andreas' State Atlas of Iowa, and are believed to be as accu- 
rate as are obtainable. They are supplemented with additional 
facts, wherever it is possible to procure reliable data and i^;ifor- 
mation : 

Chickasaw is the third county west of the Mississippi River in 
the second tier from the north line of the State. It contains an 
area of 504 square miles, or 322,500 acres 

The surface of the country" is generally gently undulating, and 
in some places very nearly level. Very little rolling land is found 
within its limits, and.this is confined principally to a narrow strip 
of the southwestern township, in the vicinity of Cedar River. The 
natural drainage of this surface is remarkably good, as the county 
is traversed by no less than seven streams of considerable size, all- 
flowing in a southeasterly direction, and almost jjarallel to each 
other, which, with their numerous small affluents, drain nearly 
every section in the county. The current in these streams is uni- 
formly quite rapid, but the nature of the rock underlying the en- 
tire county has prevented them from eroding deep channels. 

The numerous streams supply the county with numerous water 
powers, which are being imjn'oved as the agricultural resources of 
the county are develojjcd and require their use. It has so far been 
chiefly employed for milling puri)oses, as other manufacturing en- 
terprises have not been inaugurated to any great extent. 

The streams are also generally skirted with timber, of which, 
however, the county has not an abundant supjdy. There is enough 
to supply the ordinary needs of the county since the railroads 
have brought pine lumber within reach, as it is more economical 
both for building and fencing than native lumber. The timber is 
tolerably well distributed, and since the settlement of the county 
has diminished the ravages of fire it is growing rapidly in groves 
upon the prairies. The largest body of timber lies along the Cedar 
River in the southwest part of the county. 

The county is almost entirely underlaid with strata of rock 
which geologists ascribe to the Hamilton group of the Devonian 
Age. It is an argillacious limestone, or highly calcareous shales 
alternating with bands of limestone. The following measurements 



122 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COl'fvTY. 

of the (lift'erent strata at a quarry near Bradford, on Cedar River, 
will indicate the general character of the rock formation : 

Light-gray, fine grained limestone 9 inches. 

Dark-gray, thick shaly limestone 7 feet. 

I>uff-gray crystalline limestone 5 inches. 

Hard, dark-gray shaly limestone 8 inches. 

Hard dark-gray limestone 7 inches. 

Unexposed 2 feet. 

Light, buft-gray limestone 1 ft. 8 in. 

The limestone exposed at this quarry is of medium purity, and 
quite hard. So for as observed, it is almost destitute of fossil. It 
is well exposed only along the l:>anks of Cedar River. l^^lsc where 
over the county the coni])aratively level surface of deej) drift, and 
the shallow channels of thi? streams are causes which prevent its 
fi'equent exposure. 

Materials suitable for the. manufacture of brick may be found in 
nearly every township. 

In an early day a large portion of the land in this (;ounty was 
considered rather too wet to be of the highest value for cultivation. 
The wet land was not found in the form of low marshes, difhcult 
of drainage, for there were Jione of these, but was as frequent upon 
the highest prairies as elsewhere* This peculiarity has very rap- 
idly disa))pcared within the ^ last few years, as indeed it could 
scarcelv fail to <1() with the excellent natural drainage already de- 
scribed. It was doubtless caused in jiart by tlie comparatively 
slight dejjressions made by the water course, but the principal 
cause is probably to be found in the nature of the soil and subsoil.. 
The soil is a deep, rich black loam, abundantly supplied with 
vegetable mold from the decay of the wild grasses which grcAV pro- 
fusely u})on its surface. The subsoil is a deep V)ed of the drilt de- 
posite consisting of earth near the surface, and beneath this min- 
gled clay, sand and gravel. Its texture was not so suitable for ad- 
mitting the percolation of water through it from the surface as the 
light porous subsoil of other sections, and the limestone rock does 
not come near enough the surface to sup])ly the under drainage 
afforded to still other sections. The luxuriant groAvth oi' grass and 
tough sward which it formed tended to retard the drving of the 



*t) 



soil by evaporation. An undue proportion of water was retained 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 123 

near the surface by these causes. Cultivation in places and the 
pasturage of the intervening prairies, have tended to equalize the 
conditions and the wet character of the soil began to disappear 
without artificial drainage. Indeed, it is now satisfiictorily de- 
monstrated that cultivation alone is capable of effecting a com- 
plete cure ; that the soil, although in an early day appearing to be 
of rather a sluggish quality, not so easily or readily sul)dued as 
that of some other sections, becomes in the course of a few years, 
as lively and as well adapted to the plow as any otlier, and that it 
is rich and productive, possessing qualities of strength and dura- 
bility found wanting in soils that were more easily subdued from 
a state of nature, and which also wear out more easily. The sta- 
tistics published in another part of this work, show that in rela- 
tive productiveness for. the amount of land in cultivation, Chicka- 
saw county takes rank among the foremost counties of tlie State of 
Iowa. 

The principal grain products of the county are wheat, corn, oats, 
and barley. Wheat takes the lead slightly, followed very closely 
by corn, and to a somewhat less degree by oats. The soil seems 
to be nearly equally well adapted to all these grains, the relative 
profit to be derived from them, chiefly govern the extent of culti- 
vation. Stock raising is an important branch of its industries, as 
both native and tame grasses thrive luxuriantly, and, indeed, 
cattle raising is by many deemed more remunerative than exten- 
sive grain growing. The county is therefore admirably suited for 
mixed or diversified farming, and is not devoted to one class of 
crops, or to grain growing or stock raising to the exclusion or det- 
riment of the other branch, but most of its farmers cultivate the 
several kinds of grain and grass and raise small herds of cattle, 
thereby securing the rotation in crops and other conditions most 
highly advantageous and favorable a reliable productiveness, and 
have every year some surplus that will bring a good price in the 
market, whether any particular product be up or down. 

The mineral resource^ of the county are comparatively slight, 
being limited to a few quarries, of building stone. Her agricultu- 
ral resources are remarkably good, as we have already described, 
and must constitute the foundation of her future prosperity. 
There are excellent resources for manufacturing purposes, in her 
abundant water powers. These have been already improved to 



124 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

considerable extent for flouring mills, but with her rich agricultu- 
ral resources and demand for machinery, ought to be made to pro- 
pel a large amount of machinery employed in the manufacture of 
agricultural implements and woolen goods, which will doubtless 
be done in time. 

The railroad facilities of the county are good. It is traveled 
from east to west by the Iowa and Dakota division of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, with stations at New Hampton, 
Lawler and Chickasaw, affording ready access to the best wheat 
market of the northwest — Milwaukee. The Cedar Falls and Min- 
nesota branch of the Illinois Central railroad traverses the south- 
west corner, with an important station at Nashua. Both of these 
roads furnish ready communication with the principal pine lum- 
ber districts. 

We would add, however, that the capability of the county for 
grazing purposes, is largely turning the attention of the farming 
community in that direction, with marked success, as is instanced 
by an improved financial condition of all classes. 

Already a large number of creameries dot these fertile prairies^ 
and foreshadow a new era in the prosperity of the county. The 
population is largely made up of the emigrants from the over- 
crowded European countries, principally fi'om Ireland, Germany 
and Scandinavia, with many from the older states of our own 
country, but all blend harmoniously in working for the present 
and future good of this their adopted home. 




HISTOEY OF CHICKASAW COUNUY. 125 



CHAPTER II. 



Organization; Original Order toR the Same; First Officers; 
Early Records; Division into Townships; County Elections; 
County Officials; Votes on Federal State, and County 
Officers, Etc. 



^) 



The first attempt at organizing the county of Chickasaw was 
made in 1853, the following, which relates thereto, being the first 
entry in the records of the county judge: 

"The county of Chickasaw embraces towns 94, 95, 96 and 97, 
ranges 11, 12, 13 and 14, west of the fifth principal meridian; and 
by order of the county judge of Fayette county, state of Iowa, the 
same was on the 30th day of June, A. D. 1853, ordered organized. 
John Bird, organizing sheriff in the election held on the 13th day 
of August, 1853" 

The following is a copy of the original notice to the organizing 
sheriff, marked, filed December 31st, 1854, in the office of the 
county judge of Chickasaw county, by J. Lyon county judge: 
"STATE OF IOWA,) 
Fayette OSunty. | 

John Bird — Sir: Bv virtue of power vested in me by the co 1^ 
of Iowa, I have this day appointed you organizing sheriff for the 
organization of Chickasaw county. You are hereby required to 
post up at least five Written notices in said county, that on the first 
Monday in August there will be an election held at the house of 
A. E. Haskel in the town of Bradford, for the purpose of organizing 
said county and electing county officers as follows, to-wit: 



126 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

"County judge, district' clerk, recorder, and treasurer, school 
fund commissioner, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, coroner, and 
county surveyor. 

"And also one justice of the peace, one constable, three township 
trustees and town clerk. And make due returns to me of the same 
at my office in West Union. 

"The above mentioned notices to be posted up at least ten days 
prior to the election. "Thomas Woodle, 

"County Judge." 

"June 30th, 1853. 

The election was held as so ordered, and so far as can be defi- 
nitely ascertained, G. R. Rowley was elected county judge; Wil- 
liam Tucker, school fund commissioner; but for reasons satisfac- 
tory, no doubt, to himself, this result was not in accordance with 
the wishes of the organizing sheriff. Bird, who it would seem, 
consequently withheld all returns on his warrant, and ordered a 
new election, which took place April 3d, 1854, at which the organ- 
ization of the county was duly effected. 

The only record showing this election is the bond of John 
Campbell as treasurer and recorder signed by G. R. Rowle}^ and 
James S. Frazee as bondsmen, and filed in the office of James 
Lyon, county judge, April 12th, 1854. The bond was in the sum 
of five thousand dollars. Tradition has it that S. C. Goddard 
resigned as clerk of the districts court, and his place was filled 
by J. A. J. Bird. To the filing of the finding of the commissioners, 
locating the county seat at Bradford, under date of August 14th. 
1554, we find Bird's signature attached. An entry bearing date 
September 5th, 1853, records a session of county court held that 
day. Judge James Lyon presiding, at which no business was tran- 
sacted, and the court adjourned. This is signed by S. C. Goddard 
as clerk. 

The county of Chickasaw, as appears from the above, was organ- 
ized April 3d, 1854, when the following officers were elected: 
James Lyon, county judge; John Campbell, recorder and treasurer; 
S. C. Goddard, district clerk; D. A. Babcock, prosecuting attorney ; 
Andrew Sample, sheriff; Oscar Cooley, surveyor; Dr. S. C. 
Haynes, coroner. 

At this election the whole county was treated as one precinct, 
under the name of Bradford. The following is a concise account 
of the subsequent township organization: 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 127 

At the March term of the county court, 1855, it was or- 
dered that the county of Chickasaw constitute five election dis- 
tricts, viz: 1. That town 94-14 and 13 be called Bradford district. 
2. That town 95-14 and 13 be called Chickasaw district. 3. That 
town 96-14 and 13 be called Brink district. 4. That town 96 and 
one-half of 97-11 and 12, be called Obispc) district. 5. That towns 
94 and 95-11 and 12 be called Yankee district. 

At the March term of the county court, 1856, township 96, range 
14, and the south half of 97-14, were set off as a new township under 
the name of Deerfield, and organized at the ensuing election. 

At the same term, township 94, range 13, was set off, and at the 
ensuing election organized under the name of Richland. 

At the same term an order was made to organize township 96-13 
and the south half of 97-13, under name of Washington, and the 
township proceeded to organize; but the organization was pro- 
nounced irregular, and it was attached to Deerfield. 

At the April term, 1857, township 95-12 was ordered organized 
under the name of New Hampton; also 96-13 and the south half 
of 97-13, under the name of Washington; also 94-11 and 12 under 
the name Fredericksburg. At this term the west half of 94-12 
was attached to Richland, and 95-11 was organized under the 
name of Stephen. 

At the July term, 1857, township 95-13 was ordered organized 
under the name of Davton. 

At the March term, 1858, 96-12 and the south half of 97-12, were 
ordered organized under the name of Jacksonville, and at the 
same time 96-11 and the south half of 97-11, were ordered organ- 
ized under the name of Utica. 

In 1859, 94-12 was ordered organized under the name of Dresden. 
Subsequently, the east tier of sections of Dresden was detached 
and placed in Fredericksburg township, but these have been since 
replaced, except the southeast of section 12 and the northeast 
of 13. 

A part of Dayton township has been taken from it and placed 
in New Hampton township, viz: the east half of northeast, and 
the northeast half of tke southeast of section 12. 

Precedent to its organization as narrated above, Chickasaw 
county was first created as a political subdivision of the State of 



128 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Iowa, in 1851, by chapter nine of the act of the third general as- 
sembly, section that thirty -three of which reads as follows : "That 
the following shall be the boundaries of a new country which shall 
be called Chickasaw, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest ©orner 
of township 97, range 10; thence west to the northwest corner of 
township 97, range 14, thence south to the southwest corner of 
township 94, range 14; thence east to the southwest corner of 
township 14, range 10; thence to the -place of beginning;" which 
aot was approved on the 15th day of January, 1851. 

A chapter one hundred and twenty of the acts of the fourth 
general assembly, the boundaries were changed as follows: "Sec- 
tion 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Iowa, 
that the north half of township 97, of ranges number 11, 12, 13 
and 14, following the line of the United States subdivision thereof, 
shall be, and the same are hereby detached from Chickasaw 
county and attached to Howard. 

By the act of the fourth general assembly, chapter twelve, ap- 
proved January, 1843, Chickasaw county, "attached to Fayette 
county for election, revenue and judicial purposes," and it was by 
Thomas Woodle, county judge of Fayette county, that the order 
appointing John Bird organizing sheriff of CTiickasaw county, was 
issued June 30th, 1853, as related in preceding pages. 

And here it will be in order to present a record of the 

SUCCEEDING COUNTY ELECTIONS 

in Chickasaw county, beginning with the first canvass of election 
that appears of record in the election book in the office of the county 
auditor : 

AUGUST, 1856. 

The first canvass of election recorded is that of the election held in 
August, 1856. For State Senator, 34th District, 296 votes were 
cast, of which Jeremiah T. Atkins received 219 and Edward Ellis 
seventy-seven votes; for Representative, 48th District, E. R. Gillett 
received 205 and William Pattee ninety-two votes. Timothy Davis 
and Shepherd Lefiler were opposing candidates for Congress from 
this, then the 2d Congressional District. Davis received 225 votes, 
Leffler eighty-one. For Secretary of State, Elijah Sells, 224 votes; 
George Snyder, 'seventy -nine; scattering, three. Clerk of district 
court, George W. Reed, 166; Wesley Swazee, 140. Prosecut- 
ing attorney, "Frederick Hall, 219; A. G. Case, ninety -two. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 129 

For county purveyor, C. M. Webster received 164 votes out of a 
possible 303, H. H. Shaffer, being his unsuccessful competitor. 
Edwin Cudworth was elected coroner, receiving 168 votes, Elijah 
Gunn receiving ninety -one and C. M. Webster forty-seven votes 
for the same ofiice. Forty-five votes were cast against the "hog 
law" to 236 in its favor, this beneficent measure being thus carried 
by a rattling majority. ^ 

SPECIAL ELECTION, OCTOBER. 15, 1856. 

A special election in aid of McGregor, St. Peter and Mississippi 
railroad. Total vote, 536; "for the railroad stock;" 352 "against 
the railroad stock," 176; ballots incorrectly worded, eight. 

APRIL 6, 1857. 

At this election D. A. Jackson was elected assessor by a vote of 
381 out of a total of 579 votes, M. B. Taylor receiving 195, J. Jack- 
son one and F. Padden two. At the same election 309 votes were 
cast in favor of granting aid to the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska 
railroad and 216 votes against granting such aid. L. H. Bugsbee 
received 329 votes for superintendent public instruction, Maturin 
L. Fisher seventy -nine. For commissioner of Des Moines river 
improvement. Edwin Manning received 329 votes to Gideon S. 
Bailey's eighty -nine. For Register State Land Ofiice. W. H. 
Holmes, 328; T. S. Parvin, eighty-nine. 

AUGUST 3 1857. 

Lorenzo Bailey was elected county judge, receiving 438 votes 
against I. C. H. Miller's 338. F. D. Bosworth was elected recorder 
and treasurer, the vote standing 421 for Bosworth to 353 for 
Wesley Swazee. For Sheriff, Frederick Padden, 414; A. E. 
Bigelow, 350. Surveyor, C. M. Webster, 430; H. H. Shaffer, 349. 
F. K. Figons was elected coroner and E. D. Filer, drainage com- 
missioner. On the question of the ado])tion of the new constitu- 
tion 685 votes were cast, 389 in favor of, and 296 against. On 
striking out the work "white" from the suffrage clause — ninety-one 
votes "yes," 109 votes "no." 

OCTOBER 31, 1857. 

In question of railroad tax — whole number of votes cast, 644; 
"yes," 270; "no," 375. 

APRIL 5, 1858. 

School fund commissioner, whole number of votes cast, 829; 
€. A. Oi-vis was elected. A. W. Billings, was elected surveyor; 



130 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Dr. J. Mack coroner; P. Green, drainage commissioner. On 
the question of locating county seat, 823 votes were cast 
the returns showing that Forest City received 432 votes 
and New Hamjiton 391. At this election a vote was taken on the 
question of rescinding the votes in aid of the McGregor, St. Peter 
and Mississippi and the Cedar Valley Branch of the Chicago, Iowa, 
and Nebraska railroads, the opponents of railroad aid coming out 
victorious by decided majorities. A proposed tax to the amount 
of $1,300 to aid in the construction of a bridge across the Big 
Cedar at Nashua was defeated. 

OCTOBER 12, 1858. 

C. O. Case was elected county clerk and William Tucker, drain- 
age commissioner. The vote for secretary of state was as follows : 
Elijah Sells, 427; Samuel Douglass, 322; total vote, 749. For 
member of Congress, 2d congressional district, \Vllliam Vandever 
received 477 votes and W. E. Lelhngwell, 322. 

OCTOBER 11, 1859. 

There Avere 730 votes cast for county judge, E. H. Dore receiv- 
ing 397, C A. Orvis 333; W. E. Beach was elected recorder and 
treasurer; Patrick Gilligan, sheriff; G. J. Tisdale, superintendent; 
E. W. Davis surveyor, A. E. Bigelow, drainage conmiissioner and 
A. J. Smith, coroner. 

NOVEMBER, 1860. 

C. 0. Case was elected clerk of district court, receiving the entire 
vote, 854. The following gentlemen were elected members of the 
first board of county supervisors: C. D. Johnson, F. D. Bosworth, 
Vinal Thayer, E. Perry, E. W. Davis, Gideon Gardner, E. Darst, 
William Tucker, Almon Harris, .J. H. Vantassell, M. L. Palmer, 
D. R. Kerby. 

OCTOBER 8, 1861. 

There were 7(K) votes east for county judge, Caleb Arnold receiv- 
ing 483, W. C. Mitchell 217. Other county officers were elected as 
follows: Charles Fitch, surveyor; J. A. Sawin, superintendent; 
Buell Sherman, coroner; EdwinCudworth, drainage commissioner. 
For representative 685 votes were polled, of Avhich J. F. Wilson 
received 440, William Tucker 244, and one "scattering." 

FEBRUARY 25, 1862. 

This was a special election for state senak)r, 40th senatorial dis- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAAA' COUKTY. 131. 

trict. But 294 Yotes were cast, of which G. W. Howard received 
223, A. G. Case thirty-eight, scattering thirty-three. 

OCTOBER 14, 1862. 
C. 0. Case Avas elected clerk of the district court and Samuel H-. 
Young, surveyor. There were 112 votes cast by Chickasaw county 

volunteers in the service in various regiments. - 

OCTOBER 13, 1863. 
For representative, 49th district, 927 votes were cast, Henry C 
Vinton receiving 666 and Daniel Powd 261. S. G. Meriam was- 
elected county judge his competitors being Caleb Arnold and B. E^ 
Morton. The other ofhcers elected were, Samuel H. Young, sur- 
veyor, F. D. Bosworth, superintendent; Buell Sherman, coroner;. 
Edwin Cudworth, drainage commissioner. ' 

NOVEMBER 8, 1864. 

C. 0. Case was elected clerk of district court, receiving 772 votes, 
the entire number cast. B. E. Morton was elected recorder. One 
hundred and 35 votes were cast by soldiers in the field. The 
question to appropriate funds to build county building was de- 
cided affirmatively by a vote of 497 to 270, and it was also voted 
to appropriate funds to build bridge at Nashua, there being 445- 

votes for, to 336 votes against. 

OCTOBEK, 10, 1865, 
The total vote for representative, 49th district, was 908, as- 
follows: G. -J. Tisdale489, D.'A. Babcock409, A. G. Case nine^ 
W. A. Pitts 1. G. A. Hanjilton was elected county judge, his- 
competitors l)eing ^I. C. Ayres and John Mays. John Dixon was 
elected sheriff, J. C.Johnson superintendent, S. H. Young surveyor, 

John A. Green drainage commissioner, L. H. Weller coroner. 

■ OCTOBER 9, 1866. 
C. 0. Case was unanimously elected clerk of district court, total 
vote 1,085; B. E. jVIorton was elected recorder, and C. INI. Webster, 
treasurer. The proposition to devote the swamp land fund to the 

erection of l)ridges and to jjuldic improvements, carried. 

OCTOBEH, 1867. 
The total vote cast for reiu-esentative, 4th district, was 1,074, of 

which William Tucker received 493. His unsuccessful competi- 
tors were G. J. Tisdale and Iv. H. AAVller. G. A. Hamilton waK 
elected county judge, James A. Albertson, sheriff, W. ^^^ Birdsall,, 
treasurer, J. C. Johnson superintendent, H. H. Potter surveyor,, 
William Everingham coroner, J. H. Powers drainage commis-- 
sioner. 



132 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

NOVEMBEE, 1868. 

The Iowa Republican presidential electors received 995 votes; 
Democratic presidential electors, 520; total votes, 1,515. For Sec- 
retary of State, Ed. Wright received 1,023 votes; David Hammer, 
492. William B. Allison received 960 votes for congress (3d con- 
gressional district); W^illiam Mills 529, and L. A. Thomas 4. 
"For the tax," 725; "against the tax," 619." Zelotes Bailey was 
elected clerk of district court and B. E. Morton county recorder. 

OCTOBER, 1869. 
Reijresentative, 57th district, total vote, 1,268; G. W. Butterfield 
506, D. B. Hanan 441, William Tucker 311, one "scattering." The 
"stock act" was carried. W. W. Birdsall was elected county treas- 
urer, G. A. Hamilton auditor, E. W. Beach sheriff, H. H. Potter 
surveyor, W. P. Bennett su-perintendent, Dr. Amos Babcock, 
coroner. 

OCTOBER, 1870. 

At this election 1,480 votes were polled, of which W. G. Don- 
nan received 967, and J. T. Stoneman 517, for congress ; C. C. 
Cole, William E. Miller and James F. Day received majorities for 
judges of the supreme court; Ed. Wright received 988 for secretary 
of state, and county officers were elected as follows: C. A. Harris 
recorder, Joseph F. Grawe superintendent. Zelotes Bailey was 
elected clerk of district and circuit court. The proposition to es- 
tablish a high school at Bradford was voted down. 

OCTOBER 16, 1871. 
For governor C. C. Carpenter received 1,001, and J. C. Knapp 
694; for representative, 57th district, 1,677 votes were cast, of 
which D. B. Hanan received 889, his competitor being G. W. 
Butterfield. John Foley was elected treasurer, G. A. Hamilton 
auditor, R. O. Sheldon sheriff, C. Seeber Surveyor, J. F. Grawe su- 
perintendent. Dr. A. Babcock coroner, John A. Green members of 
board of supervisors. The proposition to restrain stock from run- 
ning at large was voted down. The proposition to levy a tax of 
two mills to purchase a county poor farm, was decided affirmatively 
by a vote of 1,003 to 435. 

NOVEMBER 12, 1872. 

Total number of votes cast 1,660. For president. Grant received 
1,122 and Greeley 501. Z. Bailey was elected clerk of courts, C. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 133 

A. Harris recorder, W. D. Stafford member of the board of super- 
visor. 

OCTOBER 14, 1873. 

For representative, total vote 1,832; D. B. Hanan received 894 
votes, F. D. Bosworth 641, William Tucker 296, and Daniel 
Pond one. George A. Hamilton was elected auditor, John Foley 
treasurer, R. 0. Sheldon sheriif, J. F. Grawe superintendent, W. 
R. Geeting surveyor, Dr. I. K. Gardner coroner, E. R. Dickinson 
and E. C. Abbott member of board of supervisors. The county 
jail tax was defeated by a vote of 1,018 to 176. 

OCTOBER 14, 1874. 
Total vote, 1,500; J. M. Gilliland was elected clerk of the courts, 
C. A. Harris Recorder and E. C. Abbott member of Board of Su- 
pervisors. 

OCTOBER 18, 1875. 

The total vote for representative, 63d district, was 1,811; John 
McHugh was the successful candidate. Lee Chapman was elected 
auditor, John Foley treasurer, R. 0. Sheldon sheriff, W. D. Col- 
lins superintendent, W. R. Geeting surveyor, I. K. Gardner coro- 
ner, Thomas Kenyon member of board of supervisors. 

NOVEMBER 7, 1876. 

J. M. Gilliland was elected clerk of the courts, C. A. Harris re.- 
corder, W. A. Eastman surveyor, E. R. Dickinson member of 
supervisors. 

OCTOBER 9, 1877. 

William B. Perriii was elected representative, 63d district; total 
vote polled, 2,471. The following county officers were elected: 
Lee Chapman auditor, John Foley treasurer, R. 0. Sheldon, sher- 
iff, W. D. Collins superintendent, W. A. Eastman surveyor, I. K. 
Gardner coroner, John Houser member of the board of super- 
visors. 

OCTOBER 8, 1878. 

Total vote, 2,539. J. M. Gilliland was elected clerk of the 
courts, C. A. Harris recorder, George W. Cotant surveyor, Thos. 
Kenyon supervisor. 

OCTOBER 14, 1879. 

Total vote, 2,974. W. B. Perrin was elected representative, 
67th district; E. P. Sheffield auditor, John A. Green treasurer, R. 
O. Sheldon sheriff, Henry A. Simons superintendent, A. E. 
Quaife surveyor, I. K. Gardner coroner. At this election it was 



134 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



voted to increase the members of the board of county supervisors 
from three to five. 

NOVEMBER 2, 1880. 

Total vote, 2,758. J. M. Lynch was elected clerk of the court, 
A. H. Wight recorder, John Hauser, Hiram Bailey and Charles 
Cummerford supervisors. The act restraining stock from running 
at large was voted down. 

OCTOBER 11, 1881, 

The total number of votes cast for representative, 67th district, 
was 1,763, of which James F. Babcock received 1,005, and Buell 
Sherman 758. E. P. Sheffield was elected auditor, John A. Green 
treasurer, Horton Mandeville sheriff, J. A. l!;apham superinten- 
dent, C. L. Gabrilson supervisor, Geo. W. Cotant surveyor, I. K, 
Gardner coroner. 

JUNE 27, 1882. 

The vote on the Prohibition Amendment in Chickasaw county 
was as follows: Total vote, 2,450; for the amendment, 1,382; against 
the amendment 1,068 — majority in favor of the amendment, 314. 




Wm^' 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 135 



CHAPTER III. 



First Things ; First Settlers ; First Births ; First Sermons ; 
First Store ; First Court ; First Marriage License ; First 
Road ; First Tax Levy ; First Naturalization Papers ; 
Early Treasurer's Report ; First Board of County Super- 
visors ; First County Officers ; Records from Minutes of 
Meetings of Board of Supervisors ; Building of Court 
House. 



While the question of who has the lionor of being the first white 
settler within the borders of what now constitutes the county of 
Chickasaw, lies clothed in doubt, misty tradition hath it, that 
several parties during the year 1840, came to the Indian Reserva- 
tion, at or near where Bradford now stands, and staid all summer, 
breaking land, fencing, etc, (see Bradford township). Still, as 
they did not remain permanently, they can hardly be considered 
in the light of first settlers. Tne balance of evidence seems to 
point to the fact that Truman Merritt, who settled near Greenwood 
in the year 1848, is entitled to the name of being the first Avho 
brought his family into the county with the intention of re- 
maining. 



136 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

The first child born was a daughter of the above Merritt, who 
first saw light during the year 1850. 

The first male child, however, was Elmer Case, whose birth in 
1851, near Greenwood, brought joy to his family and a prospective 
voter to the county. 

The first sermons preached were delivered in the year 1853, by a 
Mr. Ingam, at the house of Mr. John Bird, at the village of 
Bradford. 

The first store ever opened in the county we are credibly inform- 
ed was owned by J. A. J. Bird at Bradford and the date of its initia- 
tion was probably 1853. 

For fuller particulars of all these events, we would respectfully 
refer our readers to the history of Bradford township,where, as that 
being the first settled portion of the county, these matters have 
been treated more in detail. 

The first entry in the records of the county judges of Chickasaw 
county describes the boundaries of the county, and recites the or- 
der for organization and the appointment of John Bird "organizing 
Sheriff'" in the election held on the 13th day of August, A. D., 
1853. This, together with the entry recording the session of court 
held Sept. 5th, 1853, at which no business was transacted, signed 
by J. Lyons as county judge, and attested by S. C. Goddard aa 
clerk, has been already quoted. 

On the 5th of September, 1853, appears the first record of a 
marriage license granted, the contracting parties being Joseph 
Aving and Elizabeth Jarrard. 

October 10, court again convened, but no business Avas trans- 
acted. At the session held November 7th, a petition signed by 
John Bird, Andrew Sample, E. A. Haskell and others, for a county 
road, to be called the West Union and Bradford road, was refer- 
red to E. A. Haskel as commissioner, to report at the next term 
of court. 

On the 31st of December, 1853, a marriage license was granted to 
John Kerr and Loraine Philps. 

On the 2d of January, 1854, Joseph Andrews was appointed se- 
lecting agent for swamp lands. On the 10th of February, 1854, 
S. E. Hackleton was granted license to peddle for three months, 
and on the same date a marriage license Avas granted to C. Rowley 
and Mary A. Tliouraman. After this date matrimonial permits 
are of increasingly frequent occurrences. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 137 

At the April term, 1854, a petition of D. A. Babcock, S. C. 
Haynes and Joseph Andrews for a county road, to be called the 
West Union and Greenwood road, was referred to Samuel Thompson 
as commissioner ; road petitions and proceedings consequent there- 
on, forming a very considerable portion of the business transacted 
fromx and after this date. At the May term it was "ordered that 
the West Union and Bradford road become a road sixty -six feet 
wide, and that all roads hereafter be of the same width." 

At a special term, August 28th, 1855, [From the connection of 
this paragraph with others, it is evident that this date should be 
1854,] it was ordered that a tax on the taxable property in this 
county should be levied as follows : for state purposes, 3 mills ; 
Tor county purposes, 4^ mills ; for school purposes, i mill ; and a 
poll of 50 cents on each person liable thereto. 

August 29th, 1854, "ordered that E. A. Haskell receive the ap- 
pointment of recorder and treasurer." 

Applications for county roads were especially numerous during 
the year 1855. 

At a sj^ecial term held July 23d, 1855, the following tax rates 
were established for the current year: for state purposes, li mills; 
for county, 6 mills; for scliools, 1^ mills; for roads, 3 mills; and a 
poll tax of 50 cents. An order was issued for an election of county 
officers, a vote for or against restraining hogs from running at 
large after April 1st, 1856, and a vote for or against vacating Green- 
wood village, the election to be held on the first Monday in Au- 
gust; and that Brink precinct be attached to Chickasaw for elec- 
tion purposes. 

On the 20th of August the village of Greenwood was ordered 
vacated. On the same date appear the following entries: 

"Ordered that Hazzard Green be appointed to sell intoxicating 
liquors for medicinal, sacramental and mechanical purposes only, 
for the salary of $50 per year, to sell in the Obispo precinct only;" 
and a similar entry with reference to J. A. J. Bird in the town of 
Bradford. 

The first entry of B. E. DePuy as county judge, is of date Octo- 
ber 1st, 1855, and has reference to the appointment of a commis- 
sioner to locate a road to be known as the Waucoma road. 

November 5th, 1855, James Lyons qualified as a justice of the 
peace. 



138 HISTORY OV CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

At the February term, 1856, a petition was presented by Osgood 
Go wen from J. C. H. Miller and 224 others, for the selection of the 
county seat at New Hampton, in the geographical center of the 
county, and an order was granted for a vote to be taken at the 
April election. 

At the ■May term, 1856, W. E. Andrews, county judge ex-oflicio^ 
"Samuel P. Elder was appointed liquor agent for the town of 
Bradford, at an annual salary ol $100, and it was ordered that any 
liquor agent now acting in said county, or hereafter appointed, 
shall charge 25 per cent, profit on the cost of any intoxicating 
liquor sold by any such agent, until otherwise ordered by the 
court." 

At the July term, 1856, it was ordered that a "road poll tax ot 
$2 be laid on each person liable to pay county poll tax." The 
total tax levy for 1856 was 8i mills. One mill of the tax levied 
for road and bridge purposes, was "for building bridges too expen- 
sive to be constructed from the ordinary road tax. 

"In pursuance of the code of Iowa, and by request of the people 
of Chickasaw county, an election was called for the 15tli day of 
October, 1856, to vote upon the following question : '-Whether tli& 
said county of Chickasaw will take $100,000 of the stock of the 
McGregor, 8t. Peters ami Missouri river railroad company; said 
road to run by the way of Bradford; and issue bonds in payment 
therefore, bearing interest at tlie rate of ten per cent, per annum, 
the principal sum payable in twenty years; and that a tax be levied 
on the taxable i)roperty of said county, for the payment of interest 
and princi}ial; said railroad company to pay the interest on said 
bonds until said road is in operation to the west line of said county. 
The form of the vote shall be: 'For the railroad stock,' or, 'Against 
the railroad stock.' " 

By reference to the record of elections, it will be seen that at the 
election called for the above purpose, the question was decitkxl in 
the affirmative, by a vote of 356 to 176; but at a subsequent elec- 
tion, held April 5th, 1858, this vote was rescinded by a majority as 
decisive. 

The first record of naturalization is of date October 22d, 1856^ 
when James Prior, a native of England, declared liis intention to 
become a citizen of the United States. 

At the November term, 1856, S. B. Carpenter was appointed 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNUY, 139 

liquor agent for Richland and adjoining townships, at a salary of 
$70. 

The following is a copy of the settlement with the county treas- 
urer of Ciiickasaw county, from »September 1st, 18G5, to March ISth, 
1856: 

G. W. Howard, County Treasurer, 

To Chickasaw County, Dr. 

To tax-list for 1855 $ 5,853 14 

" 281polls 140 50 

" marriage fees 10 00 

" lines - 10 00 

" balance for 1854 ' 183 43 

Total $ G,197 07 

Cr. 

By delinquent tax $ 1,635 72 

" county warrants paid 787 97 

" road " " 212 77 

" error in tax list 21 83 

" payment to state treasurer 500 00 

" " " school fund commissioners 486 65 

a u (( a a a -i r rvr\ 

Total S 3,659 94 

The amount of taxable j^roperty as returned by the assessors for 
1856, was $1,071,726. 

There was j^laced in the hands of the county treasurer for collec- 
tion, on the 1,5th day of tSeptemljcr, 1856, the sum of $9,045.74, 
divided as foUown: Amount of tax on property, $8,841.74; amount 
of poll tax, $204.00. 

At the March term, 1857, a proclamation was issued, calling an 
election, to be held on the 6th day of April, 1857, to vote upon the 
question of taking $100,000 of stock of the Cedar Valley branch of 
the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska railroad company; said road to 
be run on the east side of the Little Cedar river, from a point near 
Brad'ford t(j a point at or near the village of Chickasaw; issuing 
bonds bearing 10 per cent, interest and running twenty years 
therefor. This proposition prevailed at the election by a vote of 
309 to 216, but was also subsequently rescinded. 



140 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

At the May term, 1857, the commissioners appointed by an act 
of the legislature to relocate the county seat of Chickasaw county, 
reported in favor of the geographical center at New Hampton. 

The total tax levy for 1857 was lis mills. A road poll of one 
dollar was levied, in addition to a poll tax of fifty cents, for county 
purposes. 

We find under date of June 2d, 1857, that the county judge is- 
sue two marriage licenses, one to C. W. Taylor, and one to Geo. B. 
Holcomb, both to marry the same lady, and tradition hath it that 
the old adage in regard to two stools was borne out in this case as 
the lady remains unmarried to this day. 

The first ni(?ntion of Nashua in the county judge's record is, 
under date of December 15th, 1857, as follows: "Ordered that 
$1,000 of the special property tax be expended to construct a 
bridge across the Big Cedar at Nashua." 

At Forest City, May 12th, 1858, the board of equalization reduc- 
ed the assessment of 1857 upon real estate fifty per cent. The tax 
levy for 1858 was 91 mills. 

Frederick Padden resigned as sheriff November 3d, 1858, and 
Charles E. Zwicks was appointed to fill the vacancy. 
W. S. Mower was appointed deputy sherift' and E. M. Aiken was 
appointed deputy clerk by C. O. Case. For 1859, a county 
tax of 4 mills, and a school tax of 1 mill were levied. On the 27th 
of October, 1859 the official bond of the county treasurer was 
placed at $8,000. For 1860, the tax rates for county and school 
purposes were the same as for the previous year. 

The records of the board of county supervisors begin with the 
first meeting held at New Hampton on the 7th day of January, 
1861. The following is a list of the 

FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: 

C. D. Johnson, Bradford twp. E. Darst, Dayton twp. 
F. D. Bosworth, Richland " Win. Tucker, Chickasaw twp. 
Vinal Thayer, Dresden " Almon Harris, Deerfield " 
E. Perry, Fredricksburg " J. H. Vantassell, Washington twp 
E. W. Davis, tStapleton " W. L. Pahuer, Jacksonville 
Gideon Gardner, New Hampton D. B. Kerby, Utica * " 

M. L. Palmer was elected president of the board, but , resigned, 
and William Tucker was elected in his place. The appropriate 
committees were then appointed. On the following day rules and 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 141 

regulations were adopted, and miscellaneous business proceeded 
with. 

At this term H. C. Baldwin was allowed ten cents per night for 
sleeping in the county office until further arrangements were 
made. The sheriff was instructed to move the safe, books, sta- 
tionery and wood, for the use of the county officers, from the 
school house in New Hampton to the court room, and was given 
general charge of the few effects of the county. Blank books, to 
cost not more than seventy -five cents per copy, were voted the 
justices of the peace in each township, to be used as dockets. The 
total expense of this session, including pay of the supervisors, was 
$141.40. 

On the 1st of June, 1861, the total amount of money in the 
county treasurer's hands for disbursement, was $3,302.93. 

At the June term, 1861, it was ordered that the partition of the 
school building be removed, that the room be also used for dis- 
trict court purposes, and that Cotant & McCullow's building be 
rented for county offices, for one year at $60 per year. 

At the same term the clerk was authorized to advertise for 
sealed proposals for the purchase of a farm, to be used as a county 
poor farm. At the October term, it was reported inadvisable, in 
the then condition of the county finances, to purchase a poor 
farm. 

In the proceedings of the January term, 1862, appears the fol- 
lowing entry: "Wam-no-cat and Mich-a-gan (Indians) presented 
accounts for bounty on wild cats. It was moved and seconded 
that the said accounts be allowed. The yeas and nays being call- 
ed for, resulted nine yeas, and three nays. The members voting in 
the negative, said they did so on account of the oath of an Indian 
not being considered valid by our laws." 

A resolution was introduced at this session, authorizing the em- 
ployment of an attorney to represent the county in the case of 
Chickasaw county vs. Lorenzo Bailey, in the supreme court of the 
state, and reccoinmending J. 0. Crosby. 

A. W. Billings was appointed county surveyor in place of Chas. 
Fitch, who had left the state. The appointment of D. A. Jackson 
to be deputy sheriff was approved. 

H. C. Baldwin, dejmty recorder and treasurer, was requested 
and authorized to sleep in the county ofHce, the records and 
moneys of the county being deemed liable to robbery and de- 



142 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Btruction, and Mr. B. was authorized to choose a person "as his 
company nights in said office," both to receive a suitable compen- 
sation, and accommodations to be furnished them by the county. 

At the June term, 1862, citizens of Nashua asked an appropri- 
ation of $1,000 to build a bridge across the Big Cedar, which peti- 
tion was referred to the committee on roads and bridges. 

At the September term, 1862, Eli Darst was appointed county 
surveyor, vice E. W. Davis resigned, and Emily Stebbins was ap- 
pointed deputy recorder and treasurer. At the October term, T. 
N. Skinner was appointed to fill vacancy as county superintendent 
occasioned by the removal of J. H. Sawin from the state. At this 
term, also, C. O. Case Avas authorized to purchase a county seal; 
and the salary of the clerk was fixed at $500 per year, deducting 
therefrom the amount of fees received. 

At the September meeting of the board, 1863, the salary of the 
clerk was fixed at $600, exclusive of pay for assistance. 

At the January term, 1864, the county treasurer's bond was 
fixed at $16,000. A petition from Nashua for $3,000 to build a 
bridge across the Big Cedar at that point, was denied, on the ground 
that the law prescribed the course to be pursued in such cases. 

As an indication of the mighty onward march of progressive 
civilization, it may be mentioned that the board at this term au- 
thorized the clerk to purchase two kerosene lamps, one for the 
clerk's and the other for the treasurer's office. 

At the June meeting, 1864, Mary Case was appointed deputy 

clerk. 
J. H. Powers, for many citizens of the county, asked that, at the 

next regular election, the question of a sufficient appropriation 
from funds accruing out of the school lands to construct a bridge 
across the Big Cedar at Nashua, be submitted to the voters, and 
also asked that action be taken in the matter of providing a suita- 
ble county building, the latter of which requests is treated of in 
detail elsewhere in this book. The board arranged for ascertain- 
ing the amount necessary to construct a suitable bridge at Nashua, 
preparatory to submitting the matter to the voters. 

The following bounties were fixed for scalps of wild animals; 
gray gophers, three cents; pocket gophers, five cents; wild cats, $3; 
prairie wolves, $5; timber wolves, $5. 

At the September meeting, 1864, it was decided to submit to the 
voters, at the November election, the question of appropriating 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 143 

$4,000 out of the swamp land fund, to construct a bridge over the 
Big Cedar, at Nashua. 

The tidal wave of progress still sweeps onward, over the bosom 
of the mighty west, and the sheriff is authorized to "procure a 
stove-pipe and fit a room for holding court." 

At the meeting of the board of supervisors in June, 1865, the 
clerk was authorized to draw a warrant for fifty cents to pay for 
recording the deed given for the land donated by G. Gardner for 
the site of a court house, also a resolution was passed, apjDointing 
Messrs.^ Palmer of Jacksonville, Haslam of Dayton, and Wood- 
bridge of Bradford, a committee to enter into a contract on the part 
of the county, with some party or parties to build a court house. 

The above contract was immediately placed before the board and 
bears date of June 6, 1865, and recites that the said court house 
was to be completed by November 25, 1865, and the terms of pay- 
ment, according to the contract, were to be $840 cash down, $500 
when the frame was raised, $500 when enclosed and finally eleven 
hundred and forty dollars when the building was completed and 
accepted by the county. The three last sums to be paid out of the 
funds known as the swamp land fund. J. H. Powers was the con- 
tractor, who filed his bond for the faithful performance of said 
contract, June 7th of the same year. 

The tax assessments for the year are set as follows: state tax, 2 
mills; county, 4 mills; school, 1 mill; bridge, j mill, and volunteer 
fund, 6 mills. 

A resolution was'passed by the board of supervisors at the Sep- 
tember meeting, 1865, whereby W. B. Grant, W. Tucker and N. F. 
Lighthall were appointed a committee to oversee and take charge 
of the building of a bridge across the Cedar at Nashua, the erection 
of which was at that time being canvassed. 

In October, 1865, a resolution was brought before the board, and 
by them passed, appointing to the office of county judge, G. A. 
Hamilton, to fill the vacanc^'^^occasioned by the removal from the 
county of S. G. Merriam. 

In January, 1866, at a regular session of the board of supervis- 
ors, W. E. Beach, E. D. Woodbridge and E. K. Morrill were ap- 
pointed a committee to ascertain the present .and prospective in- 
debtedness of the county, and devise some honorable means to re- 
store the warrants of said county to par ancl preserve the credit 
thereof. 



l44 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

At this meeting, the committee appointed at the September 
term, 1865, to oversee the building of the Nashua bridge, reported 
that the amount appropriated for that purpose would not be 
enough by two thousand dollars, and asked the appropriation of 
that sum, but after much discussion the matter was laid over un- 
til more prosperous times would allow it. 

The indebtedness of the county as reported to the board, Jan, 
1866, was as follows: 

Outstanding unpaid warrants $ 8,510 98 

Account of volunteers presented this session 13,315 51 

Ordinary accounts '. 991 12 

Probable additions.-. '. 100 00 

Total indebtedness $22,917 61 

Again at the meeting of the board of supervisors in June, 1866, 
the matter of the bridge at Nashua comes to the front and E. D. 
Woodbridgc, Michael Cagley^ and H. Case were appointed a com- 
mittee to let the contract to build it if possible, and adding the 
sum of five hundred dollars to the four thousand dollars already 
appropriated for tliat purpose and to be helped by a private sub- 
scription of fifteen hundred dollars, the said bridge to be finished 
by March 1, 1867. 

The tax rate fixed by the board for 1866, was as follows: state 
tax, 2 J mills; county tax, 4 mills; with a poll tax of fifty cents; 
school, 1 mill; bridge, 3 mills, and volunteer fund, 10 mills. 

According to a report made b}'' the assessors of the several town-- 
ships, to the board, the total valuation of the county for the year 
1867 was $1,177,959.00. 

At the June session, 1867, we find a report signed by A. G. 
Case, S. F. Eastman and E. H. Hall as commissioners, that they 
had let the contract for building the bridge over the Big Cedar at 
Nashua, to A. Spaulding, and that he had complied with the terms 
of the contract, and that the bridge was finished or so nearly so as 
to warrant them in pronouncing the contract complete. 

At the meeting of the board, September, 1868, a resolution was 
adopted, wherein it is recited that as "Chickasaw county was in 
debt over seven thousand dollars, in the county fund, its warrants 
were depreciated to a ruinous rate, and as it is best to pay as 
promptly as possible to restore credit. Resolved, That a special 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 145 

levy of tax be made, of 2 mills on the dollar, to be levied from, 
year to year until such debt be wiped out," which measure was to 
be submitted to a vote of the people at the regular election in No- 
vember, 1868, said tax to be levied for 1869, and subsequently at 
the election above mentioned, the people of the county endorsed 
the action of the board and the tax was levied. 

At the June meeting, 1869; a petition was presented, asking that 
the board take some steps toward building a jail, but on its being 
referred to a committee it was returned with the report, that in. 
their opinion there was no necessity for one, and this action 
seems to have been final, for the county, although owning very 
fine buildings, still does not possess a jail, but send its prisoners 
to Decorah for safe keeping. 

At the June term, 1872, the board consummated the buying of 
the farm now used as the poor farm, together with all the improve- 
ments, and offered to receive bids for the erectiop of suitable build- 
ings. 

They also contracted with Mosler, Bahrman & Co., of Chicago, 
111, for two large safes for county records, at a cost of $2,450. 

At a special session of the board held October 7th, 1872, the con- 
tract was let to A. W. Utter of New Hampton to erect the house on 
the poor farm at an expense of $1,360.80 

The following report shows the condition of the revenue in said 
county from Jan. 1st to June 2d, 1873. 

STATE FUND. 

Cash in treasury $ 266 37" 

Total collections 3,706 16 

Total 3,972 53- 

Disbursement 2,914 82 

Balance in treasury 1,057 71 

COUNTY FUND. 

Cash in treasury 173 21 

Total collections 9,502 5& 

Total 9,675 79 

Disbursements 9,675 79 



146 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

WAREANTS. 

Amount of outstanding warrants, last report 2,708 05 

" " warrants issued since " " 6,769 09 

Treasurer's salary 1,388 65 

Total 9,865 79 

Amount warrants reduced since last report... 9,673 98 

Amount of outstanding warrants 191 81 

BOND FUND. 

Cash in treasury. January report 419 93 

Total collections .' 1,487 72 

Total 1,907 65 

Disbursements 1 ,642 64 

Balance in treasur}^ 265 01 

SCHOOL FUND. 

Cash in treasury, January 798 81 

Total collections 1,593 38 

Total .'..... 2,392 19 

Disbursements 939 10 

Balance in treasury 1,453 09 

ROAD FUND. 

Cash in treasury 295 41 

Total collections 2,555 94 



Total , 2,851 35 

Disbursements 1,587 13 



Balance in treasury 264 22 

SCHOOL HOUSE FUND. 

Cash on hand, January 1,193 35 

Total collections 6,727 43 

Total 7,920 78 

Disbursements 6,203 58 

Balance in treasury 1,717 20 



V 



history of chickasaw county. 147 

teacher's fund. 

Cash on hand, January 2,870 37 

Total collections 10,819 85 

Total 13,690 22 

Disbursement 11,243,63 



..ciii 



On hand 2,446 59 .^,, 

contingent fund. 

Cash on hand, January 1,140 26 

Total collections 4,586 70 

Total 5,726 96 

Disbursements 4,713 53 

Balance in treasury 1,013 43 

bridge fund. 

Cash in treasury, January 765 40 

Total collections 2,374 80 



Total 3,140 20 



Disbursements 1.092 15 



■■t 



Balance in treasury 2,048 05 .;^ 

insane fund. 

Cash on hand, January 178 42 

Total collections 668 69 

Total 847 11 

Disbursements 829 12 

Balance in treasury 17 99 

poor farm fund. 

Cash in treasury, January 160 15 

Total collections 1,823 95 

Total 2,984 10 

Disbursements 2,115 51 '^ 



xa 



Balance in treasury 868 59 



148 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

interest" ON PERM AN ANT SCHOOL FUND. 

Cash on hand, January 912 35 

Total collections 1,592 01 

Total 2,504 36 

Disbursements 882 43 

Balance in treasury 1,621 93 

PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND. 

Cash on hand, January 47 00 

Total collections 1,478 68 

Total 1,525 68 

Amount loaned 1,175 68 

Balance in treasury 350 00 

RAILROAD TAXES. 

1868 on hand 20 85 

1870 '' " 126 86 

1872 " " 74 20 

Total collections 113 40 

Total. 336 61 

Total disbursements 117 41 

Balance in treasury 117 90 




HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 149 



CHAPTER IV. 



County Seat Contest; The First Contest; "Battle of Bailey's 



Lane;" The Conflict of 1880. 



"Commissioners' report. Filed in the office of the clerk of the 
district court, August 14th, A. D. 1854. J. A. J. Bird, clerk. 

"To the Hon. County Judge of Chickasaw county, Iowa: 

"The undersigned commissioners appointed by the judge of the 
second judical district for the state of Iowa, to locate and establish 
the county seat of said county of Chickasaw, respectfully report 
that, having had the same under the due consideration, they have 
selected the town of Bradford in the county and state aforesaid, 
as the point at which said county seat is hereby located and estab- 
lished. 

"Given under our hands at Bradford in the county of Chickasaw 

and state of Iowa this fourteenth day of August, A. D. 1854. 

,,r, ■ ■ \ Wm. McClintock, 

"Commissioners j j^^^ ^ Onstine." 

At the February term of the county court, 1856, a petition of 
J. C. H. Miller and two hundred and twenty-four others was pre- 
sented, praying "that at the next April election to be holden there- 
after in said county, a vote shall be taken between Bradford, 



HL^TOLY or CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the existing county seat of said county and New Hampton, for the 
county seat." 

The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and in accordance 
therewith an election was held, and at the canvassing of the votes, 
the vote of Washington township was rejected, and the board of 
canvassers declared that "Bradford received 203 votes and New 
Hampton received 203 votes." On the 6th day of June, 1856, an 
information was filed by Osgood Gowen in the office of the clerk 
of the district court, asking for a writ of mandamus, and in accord- 
ance with the prayer a writ was issued against the board of county 
canvassers on the same day. On the day following, two of the 
members of the board, W. E. Andrews, ex-officio county judge, 
and John Bird, justice of the peace, filed the following response, 
which is given in full, as it contains nearly a full history of the 
case, and is moreover, a unique specimen of that legal explicit- 
ness which is supposed to be attained only through a multiplicity 
of technical verbage: 

"THE STATE OF IOWA, 1 In the District Court of said county." 
"Chickasaw County. j To June term thereof, A. D. 1856." 

"In the matter of the information of Osgood Gowen for man- 
damus against the board of canvassers of Chickasaw county afore- 
said, in the matter of an election between Bradford and New 
Hampton, for the establishment of the county seat of said county. 

"And the said W. E. Andrews and John Bird, canvassers of 
election in said information, mentioned, come, and answering, say 
that they admit that at the February term of the county court, of 
aid county of Chickasaw, A. D. 1856, a petition was presented to 
said county court, by J. C. H. Miller and two hundred and twenty- 
four citizens, as alleged in said information, upon which said peti- 
tion an order was made by said county court that the question of 
a relocation of said county seat of Chickasaw county be submitted 
to a vote of the legal voters of said county in the year A. D. 1856; 
and that, in pursuance of said order submitting the question of a 
relocation of said count}^ seat to a vote of the legal voters of said 
county at the April election A. D. 1856, said question was sub- 
mitted and voted on at the said election. And your respondents, 
further answering, say severally and respectively, that in the re- 
turns of said election and according to the same, it did appear that 
the town of New Hampton had received the number of two hun- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 151 

dred and thirteen votes for the county seat of said county, "and that 
the town of Bradfoi'd received two hundred and six votes for 
the county seat of said county as appeared on the face of the 
papers purporting to be said returns of the said election. And your 
respondents aver, and so they answer, that all the returns so made 
to the count}' judge of the county of Chickasaw, embracing to-wit: 
all the returns from the several townships and precincts of said 
county of Chiclcasaw at the election so held in and for said county, 
were then and there, to-wit: at Bradford in said county, duly ex- 
amined and canvassed as the law directs, by said board of can- 
vassers; and that after such canvass and examination as aforesaid 
it was found that the said election returns at the election held as 
aforesaid for the purpose aforesaid, were duly and properly made 
in compliance with law, with the exception of the township of 
Washington in said county ; and after duly examining and can- 
vassing the returns of said election so held as aforesaid, for the 
purpose aforesaid for all the townships and precincts in said 
county, it was found that returns of the votes for the said town- 
ship of Washington were insufficient, irregular and of no effect, 
and uttcrl}' null and void in law. And so said respondents, 
answering as aforesaid, aver that said votes of the town of Wash- 
ington, given at said election, having been found and decided by 
the said board of canvassers, after due examination and canvass, 
to be insufficient, irregular and of no effect, and utterly null and 
void, were then and there, to-wit: at Bradford, aforesaid 
within the time required by law, duly canvassed and exam- 
ined by said board of canvassers, and were then and 
there within the time aforesaid duly and legally rejected by said 
boar(^ of canvassers, after a legal canvass of the said votes and 
returns, then and there held for insufficiency, irregularity and 
nullity, and for no other reason. 

"And your respondents, further answering, say that after said 
returns of all the said townships and precincts of the said county 
of Chickasaw, were so canvassed as aforesaid, and the returns of 
the votes of the said township of Washington were so rejected as 
aforesaid, the state of the canvass was as follows, to-wit: 

< Bradford received two-hundred and three votes, and New H amp- 
tqnreceived two hundred and three votes; and of the votes so rejected 
after said canvass as aforesaid by the canvassers aforesaid, ten 



152 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

votes were cast for New Hampton and three votes for Bradford; 
and that your respondents there made out and signed a statement 
of the canvass aforesaid, specifying the said number of votes so 
cast for the respective places aforesaid, which remains of record in 
in the office of the county judge of said county, by reference to 
which will more fully appear. 

"And your respondents, further answering, deny that they have 
done aught in the premises aforesaid; they have acted fairly, hon- 
estly and in good faith, and as they believed, and still believe, in 
strict accordance with law and their duty as canvassers as afore- 
said. And your respondents, having fully answered herein, beg to 
be discharged. 

"W. E. Andrews, 
"John Bird." 
It was claimed by the relator, that the board of canvassers hav- 
ing decided the returns from Washington township irregular, were 
in duty bound to return them to the township officers for correc- 
tion, and to stay the canvassing until the returns were completed 
as corrected. The cause was never prosecuted to a final result. A 
change of venue was applied for, and the case fell between the 
courts as it was claimed that the proper fees were not paid for the 
transcript, and the county seat remained at Bradford under the 
decision of the board of canvassers. 

On the 5th day of April, 1858, another vote was taken upon the 
county seat question, and, according to reputable authority "the 
board of canvassers, by excluding the returns of Washington town- 
ship for informality, and counting ten less than were actually cast 
in the township of Deerfield, decided that Forest City had received 
a legal majority." 

The same authority continues: "The vote of Washington town- 
ship was excluded on the ground that the poll list was wanting, 
and the ten from Deerfield on account of the returns not showing 
the full amount, they having been changed from fifty-three to 
forty -three in favor of New Hampton. Immediately on the result 
of this canvass being known the county judge adjourned court to 
meet at Forest City at 2 o'clock p. m. 

"Within a few minutes the books, papers and furniture of the 
office were in transit for Forest City, as teams were in readiness, 
and a long string of oxen attached to a wooden "drag" for the pur- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 153 

pose of moving the safe. During this time, and while all was 
activity in the removal of the county offices, a meeting of citizens 
claiming that their rights had been invaded, was being held in an 
adjoining building, to take into consideration the course to be 
pursued. 

"This meeting was addressed by some who were in a perfect frenzy 
of excitement, and who were in favor of taking possession of the 
office and retaining it where it of right belonged. Others more dis- 
creet counseled milder measures; the cooler ones finally triumphed, 
and a committee was appointed to commence legal proceedings to 
reclaim rights that were claimed to have been taken from them by 
those in power. In accordance with instructions, a suit was com- 
menced at the next term of the district court, and on the 3d day 
of June, 1858, an information was filed in the clerk's office, asking 
for a w:it of mandamus compelling the board of canvassers to 
count the votes that had been cast, including those of Washington 
and the ten in Deerfield. A special term of the distiict court was 
called to meet in August to hear the case at the August term on 
alternative writ, and after hearing, a peremptory writ was issued 
as prayed, and respondents appealed. 

"At the same time of filing the information for a writ of man- 
damus, an information was filed asking for a writ of certiorari. 
At the special sesion of the district court these papers were lost, 
and leave was granted to file new ones at the next term of the 
court. 

"The mandamus case was reversed in the supreme court as be- 
ing an improper remedy, and in the opinion it was intimated that 
the proper remedy was an injunction. On the 12th day of April, 
1859, an application was made to the district judge for an injunc- 
tion restraining the county officers from holding their offices at 
any other place than at New Hampton. 

"The writ was granted, final hearing to be had at the next 
term of district court. At the spring term of the court the 
injunction and the certiorari cases both camse up for hearing, and 
were decided in favor of New Hampton, whereupon the records 
and county offices were again returned to New Hampton. 

"This episode in the history of the county," continues our in- 
;formant, "was marked with many interesting scenes, such as civil 
and criminal prosecutions, indictments, informations, etc., in 



154 HISTOEY OF CHICKASAW COUKTY. 

which some of our prominent citizens found themselves under 
bonds to appear at the term of the district court, or in durance 
vile. At one time an attempt was made to resist a warrant, and 
subsequently a Avrit of habeas corpus, and a large number on either 
side came in collision in the lane in front of Judge liOrenzo 
Bailey's and a general fight ensued, in which both parties were 
considerably damaged. This encounter has been humorously 
termed the "l^attle of Bailey's Lane." 

"The curtain has fallen, the scene has closed, and many of those 
who were then the bitterest of foes are now th*e warmest of 
friends." 

The election of April 7th, 1856, in addition to the county seat- 
struggle, developed a contest over the election of officers that for a 
time seriously threatened the peace of the inhabitants and engen- 
dered bitter personal quarrels- that were slow to subside. An ac- 
count masnly taken from the records, is here in order: 

As before slated, the difficulty occurred in consequence of in- 
formality in the returns from the townshij) of Washington. The 
original order for the organization of Washington precinct is as 
follows : 

"COUNTY OFFICE,! 
•'Chickasaw County, j 

Mr. Thomas Steveks — Sir: You will take notice that the county 
judge of this county has formed a precinct to be known as the 
precinct of Washington, out of the following described territory 
viz: township *.)G, north of range 13 west, and the south half of 97 
north of range 18 west; and you are hereby authorized and ap- 
pointed a special constable to organize the same, by posting up 
notices in three of the most public places in said township, that 
the first election in said precinct will be held on Monday, the 7th 
day of April 1856, at the house of S. W. Byers, for the election of 
the following officers and the transaction of other business named 
in the warrant: 

: "Officers, county : One county judge, to fill vacancy; one clerk 
of district court: one county surveyor, one school fund commis- 
sioner, full term. 

"Also that a vote shall be taken on the relocation of the county 
seat of this county, between the present site, Bnidford, and New 
Ham]jton, or the geographical center of Chickasaw county. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNUY. 155 

"Officers, township: Three township trustees; one toAvnship 
clerk; two justices of the peace; two constables; one assessor; one 
•one superintendent of roads. 

"Notice should be given at least fifteen days previous to the 
day of the election, and the electors must elect by ballot or other- 
wise a chairman, and proceed to elect three persons, having the 
■ qualification of voters as judges of the election, who shall appoint 
two clerks; and both judges and clerks must be sworn by you to 
faithfully discliarge the duties of their respective offices. 

"Given under my hand and seal this 14th day of March, A. D. 
1856. • B. E. De Puy, 

County Judge." 

At the contest of the election, Osgood Gowen filed the following 
istatement: 

"That the county canvassers declared Lorenzo Bailey elected 
to the office of judge, George W. Reed elected to the office of dis- 
trict clerk, and William F. Wright elected to the office of school 
fund commissioner; and that there was a tie vote as between John 
A. Billings and C. M. Webster for office of county surveyor; 
whereas, in fact, J. C. H. INIiller was duly elected to the office of 
county judge; Thomas A. Jacobs was duly elected to the office of 
district clerk; William Tucker was duly elected to the office of 
school fund commissioner, and C. M. Webster was duly elected 
to the office of county surveyor, each, having received a majority 
of the legal votes cast in said county at said election for his said 
office." 

Among other things as causes of contest, the following were set 
forth : 

"1st. That the judges of election of Washington precinct in said 
county, neglected to sign the returns sent up to the judge, and 
left the same otherwise informal; by reason of which informality 
and neglect, the county canvassers, or a majority of them, cast out 
the entire returns and vote of said Washington precinct, in which 
precinct there were fourteen votes polled, and all for the said J. C. 
H. Miller for county judge; and all for Thomas A. Jacobs for dis- 
trict clerk; and also twelve votes were given to William Tucker 
for school fund commissioner; and all to C. M. Webster for county 
surveyor." 



156 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. ' 

And then he charges the canvassing board with error in not 
counting the vote of Washington township. 

The contesting board consisted of W. E. Andrews, prosecuting 
attorney and ex-officio county judge, and a resident of Bradford; 
George W. Howard, selected on the part of tlie incumbents in 
ollice, at that time treasurer and recorder, and a resident of Brad- 
ford; and Henry H. Shafer selected by the contestant, Osgood 
Gowen, and a resident of Obispo township, now Jacksonville. 
The contesting board decided adversely to the contestant, and af- 
firmed the decision of the board of canvassers. No further 
legal proceedings appear of record, and the incumbents held under 

the election. 

"The public mind was in a high state of excitement, and local 

party feeling ran high. A public meeting was called to meet at 
the Brink House — a well known hotel on the banks of the East 
Wapsi, about one and one-half-miles northeast of New Hampton — 
the objects and i)roceedings of which will be more fully under- 
stood by a personal of the following gem of the past." 

INDIGNATION MEETING. 

Pursuant to notice, the citizens of central, western and the' 
northern parts of Chickasaw county, assembled at the Brink 
house, on Wednesday, April 23d, 1856, and organized by calling 
the Hon. J. C. H. Miller to the chair, and electing E. R. Gillett, 
Esq., secretary. 

The chairman stated the object of the meeting in a few words. 
"It seems, he said, "that we are called together again to deliberate 
upon the ways and means, whereby the people — the majority of 
the people — claiming to be republicans, shall be heard, and the 
'elective franchise' vindicated." On motoin, a report (minority), 
from G. R. Rowley, one of the county board of canvassers, was 
read, and ordered to be printed in the Dubuque Tribune. On 
motion, a committee of three were appointed to procure counsel. 
Osgood Gowen, T. A. Jacobs and David Edwards were appointed 
said committee. Mr. Cutler inroduced the following resolution, 
which was unanimously adopted: 

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting, and the report of 
Mr. Rowley (together with 200 circulars struck off,) be published 
in the Dubuque Tribune. 

On motion, the meeting adjourned sine die, 
E. R. Gillett, Secretary. J. C. H. Miller, Chairman. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 157 

A MINORITY REPORT P 

To THE Electors of Chickasaw County, Iowa, — As one of 
the canvassers of the election held in ChickasaAV Co. on April 7th, 
deem it my duty injustice to you; to inform you of the number 
of votes cast at that time for the different county officers, and also 
for the county seat. They were as follows : 

Whole number of votes cast for county judge was 426 

Mr. Miller received of these votes 215 

Mr. Bailey received of these votes 210 

Leaving a majority in Miller's favor of 5 

Whole number of votes cast for county clerk was 423 

Mr. Jacobs recived of these votes., 216 

Mr. Reed received of these votes 207 

Leaving a majority in Mr. Jacob's favor of 9 

Whole number of votes cast for county surveyor was. .423 

Mr. Webster received of these votes 196 

Mr. Billings received of these votes 183 

Leaving a majority in Mr. Webster's favor of 13 

Whole number of votes cast for school fund commis- 
sioner was 412 

Mr. Tucker received of these votes 219 

Mr. Wriiiht received of these votes 206 



"j^^ 



Leaving a majority in Mr. Tucker's favor of 6 

[Note. — It is evident that there is an error in the figures as to 
the above office, probably a blunder of the printer's. — Ed.] 

Whole number of votes cast for county seat, was 420 

New Hampton, or geograpliical center, received of 

these votes 213 

Bradford received of these votes 206 

Leaving New Hampton, or center, a majority of.. 7 

The Hon. W. E. Andrews, then acting as county judge, John 
Bird, Esq, and myself, constituted the board. We diflered on the 



158 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

validity of the returns from North Washingington precinct. [The 
reason assigned by the canvassers for tlirowing out Washington 
precinct, was this : all the board of election in that j)recinct did 

not sign the returns, and lience this ousting business. . Washing- 
ton is a new precinct, having only organized at the last election, 
and they had not the code to guide them.] But there being two to 
one, they overruled me, and threw out those returns, even after 
having had them down on the clerk's tally list, which, if not de- 
stroyed, can yet be seen in the office; they were crossed off, and 
the remaining precincts counted, which changed the result of the 
election. If, fellow citizens, this^was the first time that Bradford 
and its hirelings had polluted the sanctity of the ballot box we, 
might overlook it. It is no longer ago than last August, that we 
elected this same J. C. H. Miller as our county judge by over 
fifty majority. Then the Hon. Judge Lyons and E. A. Haskell, 
Esq., perverted the will of the majority of the votes of this county 
by throwing out a precinct with over sixty votes to obtain their 
ends without any just cause, as I verily believe, and so the court 
decided, before whom the Hon. Judge was taken, and it saw fit to 
bind him over to answer for fraud and corruption in changing the 
result of the election.* 

But what do we see now? The same prosecuting attornay, who 
took such an active part against the Hon. Judge Lyons, and had 
him bound over; now he is called upon to act as judge and can- 
vasser. How much does he lack of perverting the will of the peo- 
ple? Has he not also taken advantage of ignorance or oversight, 
and changed tne result of the election, when it was in his power 
to have avoided it? "O consietency thou art a jewel." 



Fellow citizens, the day of our freedom and independence, has 
gone by in this far-famed county of Chickasaw; the will of the 
majority has to succomb to a meagre minorit5^ The democratic 
will, "the greatest good to the greatest number," is perverted, and 
its glorious ])recepts trampled on with impunity. Again, the 
American princii)les, "the majority shall rule," is cast aside, and a 
new plank is instituted, thus : "The minority shall rule hi Chickasaw 
Co. henceforth and forever." Fellow citizens, was ever so })alpable 
gross a fraud perpetrated, as this ? Were ever inconsistenciciS so 
glaring, as those of our Bradford neighbors ? We may boast 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 159 

of our love of lil)erty, and expatiate with owlish gravit}^ upon the 
wrongs of Kansas; but I Avill tell you, the home ruffians in this 
county tower in brutal atrocity and unmitigated villainy above 
the Kansas-Missouri brigands. We may talk of going to Kansas 
to defend the ballot box from a Missouri mob; but we know little 
of our duty when we thus talk and act; we little think the same 
thing is transpiring in our very midst; the ballot box is wrested 
from us, — -the palladium of our liberties asj^aulted — the voice of 
the majority slighted — the rights of the people taken away ! 

Fellow citizens, how long shall we be slaves to the minority in 
this land of liberty, in this "land of the free and home of the 
brave ?" If our voice is not to be heard and heeded at the ballot 
box, what security have we for our lives and our property? Are 
they not in jeopardy ? Are they not in the hands of those that 
could barter them away for a "mess of pottage?" What! The 
minorty to rule ? If the minority continue to rule, how 
long before we are burdened with taxes. How long before 
we are called upon to build county buildings in Bradford? 
The minority rules, and we must submit ! Shall we let this 
wrong pass unnoticed and unrebuked? Is there any assurance 
that there will not be a repetition of the same offence next 
yep.r? and tlie next? and so on, for a series of years? In the 
language of Patrick Henry, "shall we gain strength by inaction 
and irresolution ? shall we lay supinely on our backs, and hug the 
delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us 
hand and foot?" Answer these questions, fellow citizens, upon 
the altars of your hearts. Answer them with an eye single to the 
welfare, happiness and prosperity of this beautiful county. 

As 3';our canvasser, fellow citizens, I have laid the subject before 
you for your consideration. Hoping that you will take notice of 
such facts as I have submitted to you, I am, respectfully, your 
humble servant. G. R. Rowley, 

"The seed thus sown," continues our chronicler, "was destined 
to become prolific of bitter personal, partisan and local feeling, 
arousing the strongest jealousy and bitterest animosity. 
The first and leading question, on the advent of a settler, was, 'is 
he a northern or southern man?' Now that the mantle of peace 
has fallen upon the county, we can but look back and suppress a 
emile at these intestine wars and rumors of wars, that so absorbed 



160 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

public interest, and, in passing, express no opinion as to the jus- 
tice of either party, for a majority of the actors are still upon the 
stage of life." 

Years have passed since the above was first written, and the 
solacing hand of time has further smoothed the wrinkles in the 
front of war, until the asperities of conflict have been softened into 
heahng retrospect and quiet, kindly amusement; but it is not for 
the editor of this work to pry into the motives of men, or take 
sides in a cause that is dead. Sufficient it is to know, that these 
conflicts form part of the history of the county, and without men- 
tion of them, the history would be essentially incomplete. 

With reference to the exciting county seat fight of 1858, a few 
additional facts may be stated by way of completing this record of 
early struggles for political supremacy. The more essential facts 
have already been given. The records in the auditor's office, hve 
peculiarly silent concerning this interesting era. An entry in the 
county judge's book under date of March 2d, 1858, states that "a 
petition of Hiram Bailey and 398 others, for a vote on the reloca- 
tion of the county seat at a place known as Forest City, situated 
on sections 12 and 13, township 94, range 10, "was granted by 
Lorenzo Bailey, county judge. Another entry states that the 
election was "canvassed April 12th, 1858, and Forest City was 
found to have a majority for the county seat." "I hereby de- 
clare Forest City to be the county seat in and for Chickasaw 
county, Iowa. Lorenzo Bailey, County Judge," On the op 
opsite page another entry recites the same alleged facts, and also 
orders that the "court, adjourn to meet at Forest City at 2 o'clock 
p. M.," and the county ofiicers are "ordered to remove their records 
to Forest City. Signed. Lorenzo Bailey, 

[Attest.] J. H. Powers, County Judge. 

Deputy Clerk. 

Out of this order grew the excitement and complications here- 
tofore mentioned, which led to the scenes of disorder and the 
celebrated "Battle of Bailey's Lane." An old and responsible 
citizen, an eye witness to the scenes, thus briefly relates some of 
the occurrences: 

"You see," said he, to his inquisitor, "Judge Bailey lived at 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 161 

Forest City, had property there, and was naturally interested in 

the growth of the place. Immediately after the canvassing of the 

election and the throwing out of enough votes to give a majorty 

to Forest City, a posse was brought to New Hampton to remove 

the records. The posse numbered about seventy -five persons who 

came principally from Forest City and Bradford. The people of 

New Hampton at first refused to submit to a removal of the 

records, and made preparations to resist, many coming in from 
this vicinity to fight against the removal if necessary. 

"The opposing forces met over Gurley's store, where the county 
safe and books were. The Forest City people first went up, and^ 
were followed by the opposing faction. For a time there was the 
wildest excitement, and it looked as if trouble was imminent. 
But, under peaceable advice, the Forest City people were per- 
mitted to take the records. They threw the safe out of the second 
story window, removed the records, an ! carried the effects of the 
county to Forest City. 

"New Hampton then began to fight through the courts. A war- 
rant was issued for the arrest of Judge Bailey, and a posse went 
to his house and arrested him. Tliere was a good deal of ex- 
citement and considerable delay, the judge and his family making 
various pretexts to that end, until up came a man with what 
purported to be Avrit of habeas corpus, and took the prisioner 
away from his captors. This writ purported to liave been issued 
from the ofl&ce of the clerk of the court, but it is claimed, was it 
in reality issued by the deputy clerk. Bailey was Released, but in 
the interval during which he was held for consultation, a general 
fight ensued. The judge found it convenient to disappear, and 
for a time the conflict waged warm and the fighting dangerous. 
This was in front of the judge's house, and there were probably 
seventy-five persons present. Several were hurt, Daniel Shook 
perhaps the most severely. He was injured, I think, in the side,, 
and marked in the face, which mark he will carry to his dying, 
day." 

It is unnecessary to add that the invaders came away without 
their intended prisoner. Many of them were arrested and taken 
to Williamstown, and thence to Nashua, where a show of prosecu- 



•162 HISTORY OP (CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

tion was made, but nothing resulted therefrom other than their 
ultimate discharge. It was while going home from the scenes of 
intestine strife that Lawyer Babcock, of Bradford, lost his horse, 
the animal being drowned in a slough of the Wapsie. It is but fair 
to state that the gentleman from whom the above information was 
obtained, was a staunch supporter of New Hampton's claim. To 
mention the "Battle of Bailey's Lane" at this day, only creates 
a smile of retrospective amusement, although, it is easy to imag- 
ine, the affair was sufficiently serious at the time. 

COUNTY SEAT CONTEST 1880. 

Almost of a necessity a county seat controversy, in its progress 
provoked mach bitterness and wrangling,«o active and zealously does 
partizafiship become, so prone is man to magnify or belittle facts on 
eitlier side, that it becomes doubly hard for the historian to calmly 
and dispassionately sum up the various evidence, and try and 
place cleaiiy before the reader the true inwardness of the matter, 
but we will endeavor to make as plain a statement of the facts as 
they occurred. 

The old court house, located at New Hampton, took fire and 
burned to ashes on the evening of March 26th, 1880. The cause 
of the fire has been ascribed to incendiarism, but this has never been 
fully proven. However on the 31st, of the same month the New 
Hampton Tribune in an editorial suggested that now as the old 
land mark had gone up in flames that the county should build a 
substantial court house that would be an honor the county. On 
the sanie day, viz: March Slst, 1880, the following paper was cir- 
culated and sign by good and substantial citizens of Nashua and 
Bradford township, to-wit: 

To the Honorable board of supervisors of Chickasaw county, 

low : 

We the undersigned residents and tax-payers of said Chickasaw 
county, respectfully petition you that you take necessary steps to 
build a court house, upon the court house square. New Hamp- 
ton, as soon as the same can legally be done. Dated March 31st, 
1880. 

A. U. Lawrence, M. Stewart, Jr., 

C. A. Greely, S. E. Preston, 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COIKTY. 163 

A. A. Turner, J. W. Kellogg, 

Amos Case, J. P. Parrish, 

Jos. F. Grawe, B. A. Billings, 

Wni. B. Perriii, Hazlett and Sons, 

F. Hollenbeck, anci 125 others. 

However many of the citizens of Nashua and vicinity retro- 
graded from the above peition on the question on the agitation of 
many people in the balance of the county, who suggested the loca- 
tion of the county seat at Nashua, and the building of the court 
house at that place. 

On the 3d day of April, at a meeting held in the town of Lawler 
a resolution was passed protesting against appropriation of 
any money by the county to build a court house until the town 
where it was built should make liberal appropaiation therefor. 

This resolution seemed to cast a liiebrand in to the hitherto 
peaceful question, and to set the county in a blaze and every man 
seemed to take some part, for one side or the other. 

However, the citizens, of New Hampton, met the question, by 
appointing A. E. Bigelow, H. M. Mixer and Jno. Foley, as trustees 
to raise and hold a fund, of $5,000, to be given^ to the county of 
Chickasaw, or as much of it as was needed to complete the court 
house building, provided, the county appropriated the sum of 
$5,000 in addition. 

To this liberal offer it was raised in objection, that the sub- 
scribers were only bound for a small sum in reality, as but little 
more than the S5,000 of the county would be needed to build 
the court house, according to plans adopted by the board of super- 
visors. This led to much dispute and mangling. The citizens of 
Nashua, agreed on their part, that, if the county seat was located 
in that place, they would erect a building suitable for the pur- 
pose, at a cost of $25,000, which the county might occupy as a 
court house, at a nominal rent of $1.00 per annum, but which 
building they would not donate to the county. 

Finally at the September meeting of the board of supervisors, 
the question of locating the county seat was taken up, and a peti- 
tion signed by a large number of the voters of the county, was pre- 
sented, asking the honorable board to relocate the same at Nashua, 



164 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

in the township of Bradford. Also a remonstrance, signed by a 
larger number of votes of said county, was presented remonstrat- 
ing against the board relocating the county seat at Nashua, and 
we find the following upon the records of the board. 

"The question of the relocation of the county seat was taken up 
by the board, and the following action taken by them:" 

We, the board of supervisors of Chickasaw county, Iowa, at the 
suggestion, and by the expressed consent of the petitioners, by 
their attorney, without a close investigation of either the petition 
or remonstrance, but taking the names as they appear upon the 
face of said petition and remonstrance, and being satisfied that the 
names upon the remonstrance exceed the names upon the petition, 
therefore the prayer of the petitioners is hereby declared, not 
granted." 

This ended the matter and the county seat still remaining at New 
Hampton, the building of the court house was proceeded with; for 
account of which we refer to chapter on county buildings. 




HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 165 I 



CHAPTER V. 



The Pkess; The Printer; Journalism in Chickasaw County 
IN Early Days — Railroads; Their History and Extent. 



The inception of journalism dates from remote ages. The insti- 
tution now known as the newspaper was preceded nearly a thou- 
sand years by manuscript publications, in which the accounts of 
public occurrences in Rome were made knoAvn to the public, these 
were known by the- name of "Acta Diurna;" but their issues, in 
time of scarcity of news, was irregular, the editor either engaging 
in some other calling or indulging in the sports of the day. 

But little progress was made from this until 1622, the date of 
the first publication worthy of the name of newspaper. Prior to 
that time, the mental appetite of modern Europe had subsisted 
upon periodical manuscript literature. In England, the written 
news-letter, fui-nished only at fabulous prices, was, for a long time, 
in vogue. The news pamphlet was the nearest approach to the 
newspaper that had obtained up to 1622; when, as has been said, 
the first regular series of newspapers was born. It was about that 
time that the "Weekly News from Italic and Germanie" made its 
salutatory to the London public. It was printed upon a mechani- 
cal contrivance — perfected by one Nathanial Butler, who is th« 



167 HISTOEY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

progenitor of the newspaper proper. The first attempt at the pub- 
lication of parlimentary reports was made in 1G41, when the 
parties of the reahn first occupied a plac^in the paper. The first 
advertisement was inserted in 1648, and was in verse form, and tra- 
dition truly says that it paid then as now. 

The first daily morning newspaper was the "London Courant," 
published in 1709 and consisted of only one pago or two columns, 
each five paragraphs long; and was made up from translations 
from foreign journals. Fifty years had not elapsed l^efore there 
was over seven ndllion papers sold in England annually. 

The revolutions in journalism during the present century have 
been of so stupendous a type as to be almost beyond comprehension 
were we not brought face to face with the fact day by day. Nor 
has the press failed to increase in power and usefulness. It is an 
instrument calculated to elevate and enlighten the people, as well 
as aid in the enforcement of the laws and the perpetuation of good 
government. It is its mission to make wrong doing odious, by 
airing the misdeeds of those guilty of crimes agoinst law and so- 
ciety j and to point the admiring finger at the good and pure deeds 
of men of nobility of soul, who are worthy of respectful homage. 

And th^ printer, whose ceaseless placing of type on type makes 
possible these labors of tlie brain of men; the printer who garners 
up the thoughts and actions of men and spread them upon the 
snow white page and send them to your very door, is he not wor- 
thy a place in the history of our time. 

To use the beautiful words of that gifted journalist, Benj. F. 
♦ Taylor, when speaking of the printer: 

"The printer is tlie adjutant of thought, and this explains the 
mystery of the wonderful word — that can kindle a hope as no 
Bong can — that can warm the heart as no hope — that word 'we,' 
with a hand in hand warmth in it, for the author and printer are 
engineers together. Engineers, indeed ! when the little Corsican 
bombarded Cadiz at the distance of five miles, it was deemed the 
very triumph of engineering. But what is that range to this> 
whereby they bombard the age yet to come. 

"There at the case he stands and marshals into line the forces 
armed for truth, clothed in immortality and English. And what 
can be nobler than the equipment of a thought in sterting Saxon — 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 167 

Saxon with the ring of spear and shield in it, and that commis- 
sioning it, when we are dead, to move gradually on to the — 'latest 
syllable of recorded time'. This is to win a victory from death, 

for this has no death in it. 

"The printer is called a laborer, and the office he performs, toil. 

Oh, it is not work, but a sublime rite that he is performing, when 
he thus sights, the engine that is to fling a worded truth in grand- 
er curve than missle e'er before described — flung it into the bosom 
of an age yet unborn. 

"He throws oif his coat indeed ! we but wonder, the rather, that 
he does not put the shoes from off his feet, for the place whereon 
he stands is holy ground. 

"A little song was uttered somewhere, long ago— it wander- 
ed through the twilight feebler than a star — it died upon the ear. 
But the printer caught it up where it was lying there in the silence 
like a wounded bird, and equips it anew with wings, and he sends 
it forth from the ark that had preserved it, and it flew forth into 
the future, with the olive branch of peace, and round the world 
with melody, like the dawning of a spring morning. 

"How the types have built up the broken arches in the bridge of 
time ! How they render the brave utterances beyond the Pilgrims 
audible and eloquent — hardly feeling the free spirit, but moving 
not a word, not a syllable lost in the whirl of the world — moving 
in connected paragraph and period down the lengthening line of 
years." 

The first newspaper published in the county, was the Chickasaw 
County Republican, which made its appearance at Jacksonville in 
May, 1857, under the proprietorship of Isaac Watson, who brought 
the material from Missouri. Watson was subsequently killed by 
the rebels in Missouri during the war. Following the Republi- 
can very closely, in the same month, and during the succeeding 
week — the Cedar Valley News was issued at Bradford, with A. J. 
Felt as editor. Felt sold to a Mr. Bushnell, and he to D. A. Bab- 
oock, who represented a stock company. The stock company sold 
to G. M. Reynolds, who, in connection with Babcock, ran the paper 
for some time. The News finally succumbed to adverse circum- 
stances, and after a flickering existence, its "light went out." It 
was neutral in politics, and, says our informant, "was published 
for a republican constituency by a democratic editor." 

The Jacksonville newspaper enterprise was republican in poli- 
tics, and it, too, fell into the hands of a stock company, which, as 



168 HISTORY QF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

in the case of the Cedar Valley News, also proved to be the pre- 
cursor of death. We have before us as we write, the paper relat- 
* ng to the organizing of the stock c( n.j suy, purchase of the paper 

etc., which we herewith present in full: 

"In pursuance of a call of individuals that have prcpcsed taking 
shares and forming a joint stock association for the purpose of pur- 
chasing the press, fixtures, furniture and books of the Chickasaw 
County Republican, under t he name of the Chickasaw County Re- 
publican Association, a meeting was held at Jacksonville on the 
7th day of November, 1857, and on motion William Little was 
"called to the chair and J. H. Powers appointed secretary. On mo- 
tion the articles that had been circulated for the purpose of elicit- 
ing stock were presented, the blanks filled, and were unanimously 

adopted as follows: 

" 'The stock of the associati on shall consist of shares of ten dol- 
lars each, and each share shall be entitled to one vote. The stock 
shall be paid in installments as follows, to wit: one-half dollar down, 
two dollars in four months, and the remainder in six months. 

" 'The stockholders shall at the annual meeting on the second Wed- 
nesday of November, elect by ballot a president, vice-president^ 
secretary and treasurer, and an executive and such other commit- 
ties as they shall see fit, whose duties shall be as prescribed by 

the by-laws of the association. 

" 'The treasurer shall, before entering upon the duties of his of- 
fice, give bonds in the sum of two thousand dollars, said bonds to 
be approved by the president and filed with the secretary. 

" 'The stock holders shall have power to make by-laws not in- 
consistent with these articles. 

" 'No share shall be entitled to a vote after an installment be- 
comes due, until paid. 

" 'One-half of the shares taken, represented by at least five stock- 
holders, shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business. 

" 'These articles may be amended at any annual meeting by a 
majority of shares represented, by giving two months' notice prior 

to said meeting.' " 

These articles were signed as follows: D. A. Babcock, 3 shares, 
$30; R. C. Horton, 3 shares, $30; G. W. Howard, 3 shares, $30; B. 
E. DePuy, 2 shares, $20; A. W. Billings, 3 shares, $30; M. B. 
Taylor, 1 share $10; Thomas Poolr & Co., 5 shares, $50; Luthan 
Morgan, 1 share, $10; L. L. Morse, 3 shares, $30; W. W. Foster, 1 
share, $10; A. E. Bigelow, 1 share, $10." 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



169 



The proceedings of the meeting were continued as follows : 

"On motion they proceeded to ballot for ofiicers, which resulted 
afl follows: President Hazard Green; vice-president, D. A. Bab- 
cock; secretary, J. H. Powers; treasurer, J. H. Dickens; executive 
committee, G. W. Howard, F. D. Bosworth, J. Cole; committee on 
by-laws, W. E. Beach, J. H. Dickens, J. Cole, J. H. Powers, G. 
W. Howard." 

Shares were limited to two hundred at ten dollars each, and the 
installments were made payable as follows : five dollars down, two 
dollars in three months and three dollars in six months. The cor- 
poration began its existence on the 14th day of November, 1857' 
and was to continue ten years, subject, however, to dissolution by 
a two-thirds vote of all the shares taken. Private property was 
exempt from the incorporate debts, and the indebtedness of the 
association was never to exceed three hundred dollars at any one 
time. 

Isaac Watson's assignment of the property is as follows: "For 
the consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars in hand paid, 
I hereby assign and sell to the Chickasaw County Republican As- 
sociation, all the material and fixtures of the office of the Chick- 
asaw County Republican; also the stock and books on hand, the 
job type now at the river, and all the stock now on hand connected 
with the office; and authorize the association to appropriate the 
same to the use of the association." '^ 

Isaac Watson. 

The following is also from the records kept by the association: 

NAMES. , NO. SHARES. AMOUNT. 



Cole 

H.Green 


20 
15 


W. E. Beach 

A. Vaughn 

WilUiam Little 


1 
2 
5 


J. H. Powers 

J. P. North 

F. Coover 

H. H. Brakeman 


1 
3 

2 


C. Fitch 


1 


E. R. Gillett 

D. A. Babcock 

J. H. Powers (for Gurley) 


1 
1 
1 



$200 Receipted 
150 


10 


u 


20 


a 


50 


a 


10 


a 


30 


li 


20 


u 


60 


u 


10 
10 
10 ] 
10 


Receipted 



170 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

"The amount of shares set against the names above will call for 
shares in the Chickasaw County Republicon Association, on pre- 
senting the receipt of Isaac Watson. J. H. Powers, 

"Sec. of C. C. R. A." 

Reed, on the above the amount set opposite each name in full, 
in payment on account of the Chickasaw County Republican of- 
fice, with the exception of A. Vaughn, Charley Fitch and E. R. 
Gillett, and $40 on H. H. Brakeman. 

"Jacksonville, December 18th, 1857. 

"Isaac Watson." 

Certificates of stock appear to have been issued as follows : 
names. nos. no of shares. 

F. D. Bos worth 1 1 

D. A. Babcock 2 1 

J. H. Powers 3 1 

W.E.Beach 4 1 

J.Cole 5 to 25 20 

H. H. Brakeman 25to31 6 

G.W.Howard 31 '. 1 

J. P. North 33to36 3 

Little & Wood 36to41 5 

A. Vaughn 41to42 2 

Coover 43to44 2 

The certificates of stock were in form as follows, being a copy of 
^n origonal one now before us : 



/~ 



No. 5. CERTIFICATE OF STOCK, $10. 

OF THE 

CHICKASAW COUNTY REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATION. 

Ten Dollars. 
Issued to J. Cole. 

December 25th, A. D., 1857. 

' ^ 

Chickasaw County '\ 
Republican Association [■ 

Seal. 3 

. / 

^ J. H. Powers, Sec. H. Green, Pres. ^ 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 171 

After a brief and unsatisfactory existence the Chickasaw County 
Kepublican Association, which had been started with such careful 
preparation, sold the Republican to L. J. Young, who moved the 
material to New Hampton and with it began the publication of the 
New Hampton Courier, in connection with W. E. Beach. In pay- 
ment for the material Young executed the following instrument: 

"Be it remembered that I, L. J. Young, for a valuable considera- 
tion in hand paid by J. H. Powers, as agent of the Chickasaw 
County Republican association, do hereby sell and deliver unto 
the said powers as the said agent, one yoke of white-faced oxen» 
now used by me, and one spotted cow; and make and deliver unto 
the Chickasaw County Republican association a good and suffi- 
cient warrantee deed of lot number three in block eighteen in the 
village of Chickasaw, Chickasaw county, Iowa, or at their request 
to any other person that they may direct instead thereof; and to 
give over to him the following donations, to- wit: 

"Gardner & Hamlin, $20; D. Edwards, one lot in New Hamp- 
ton; H. Gurley, $10; S. Cotant, $10; D. A. Jackson, $10; E. T. 
Runion, $10; Powers, balance due him on note holden by H. 
Gurley ; said donation to be collected by the said agent. 

"Witness my hand and seal this 11th day of November, A. D., 
1859. L. J. Young." 

The New Hampton Courier made its first appearance on the 
16th day of January, 1860, as a six column folio, Beach & Young 
editors and proprietors. The first number was evidently put to- 
gether under difficulties, not the least of which was the scarcity of 
proper type. On the fourth page the proceedings of congress are 
set in double column measure, in great primer type, but the pro- 
ceedings not "filling out" the double column, capitals of the Ger- 
man text alphabet are inserted to fill the vacancy. An item from 
the Charles City Intelligencer, predicting the early demise of the 
new venture, is quoted in this number, with appropriate comments 
to the effect that the Courier has come to stay, etc., an assertion 
which has proven more than usually correct as regards such en- 
terprises, the Courier being at this writing in its twenty -third year 
and so far from showing signs of decay as to evince, on the con- 
trary, increased vigor, ability and prosperity with its increasing 
years. 

Of the home advertisers in this first issue of the Courier, we note 



172 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the following, doing business at that time in New Hampton, ex- 
cept where otherwise stated: Waite & Albertson, dry goods and 
groceries; A. & N. Vaughn, general merchandise, Jacksonville; H. 
Green, tavern stand, Jacksonville; William Beebe, blacksmith 
"clocks and watches cleaned, guns and gun-locks repaired," Jack- 
sonville; H. Gurley, general merchandise; Cotant & McCuUow, 
general merchandise; J. H. Powers, counselor at law; W. E. 
Beach, notary public; Caleb Arnold, justice of the peace. 

W. E. Beach subsequently sold his interest to G. M. Reynolds, 
who, after a time, purchased Young's interest also. Mr. Reynold's 
continued to publish the Courier until his death in 1878, on June 
22d, of which year the paper passed into the hands of W. R. Ed- 
wards and J. R. Carleton, who continued its publication until Oct. 
11, 1882, when Mr. Edwards sold his interest to C. F. Geer. The 
Courier is now published by Carleton & Geer, editors and proprie- 
tors, is an eight-column folio, republican in politics, and in every 
way creditable to its owners and the county of Chickasaw. 

RAILROADS. 

In the days when the feet of the pioneer first pressed the prairie 
sod of Chickasaw county, no guiding road had they on which they 
could travel to reach their destmation. A pocket compass, the 
North star, the course of the streams, or often blind chance were 
their only guide. Before their coming, to select their lands and 
build their cabins, the prairie grass and flowers had never known 
the disturbing feet of the white man. Few railroads were their in 
any parts of the United States, and in this country they lay as yet 
in the bosom of the unborn years. The hardy pioneer seeking out 
a new home, came by wagon, on horseback.; yea, often on foot; 
the ferries across the streams were rude enough when there were 
any; but often the immigrant was compelled to ford the creeks or 
raft himself over the rivers. Sometimes, wagons were transported 
across the river in small Indian canoes, that were lashed together 
at a width to accommodate the width of the wagons; the wheels 
of one side of the wagon being placed in one canoe, and the wheels 
of the other side in the other canoe and then "paddled" across. 
The horses and exen being swam by the side of the canoes, and 
another voyage being made to "set over" the family of the^^emi- 
grant who shared his toil and privation. 

As the country settled up, the needs of the pioneers began to in- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNUY. 17S 

crease, stores and trading places to spring up, goods and merchan- 
dise were hauled by wagons from McGregor and Dubuque, the 
nearest landing places on the Mississippi. In those days, and un- 
til the railroads crossed the Mississippi river — and followed the set- 
tlements into the interior, freighting and staging was a prosperous 
business, and laid the foundation for fortunes to the men who en- 
gaged in it. The old four-horse stage are still remembered with 
much pleasure, as being the joy of their early days, when the 
farmer stopped the horse in the furrow, the mechanic dropped his 
tools, and the merchant came from behind his counter, all to see 
the stage go by. What a hero — a man to be envied — was the 
driver. The young man's mind could conceive no higher ambi- 
tion than to drive a four-in-hand stage. And in fact, it made 
many of the fathers and men in middle-life feel wonderfully 
proud, when, for the first time, they took a seat in one of those old 
coaches to be whirled back to the east, from which he had so la- 

borously toiled with plodding oxen but a few years ago. 

In 1856, the people of Chickasaw first began to agitate the sub- 
ject of railroads. The McGregor, St. Peters and Mississippi rail- 
road company being then in process of formation with headquar- 
ters at Decorah and McGregor, a special election was held in 
Chickasaw county on the question as to whether the county should 
subscribe to the stock of said company to induce them to run their 
line through the county. The election was hel4 on October 15th, 
1856, and the whole number of votes cast were 536, of these 352 
voted for the subscription for the stock an d 176 against it, with 8 

ballots rejected on account of, being incorrectly worded. 

On October 6th, 1857, a vote was taken in the county as to 
whether the county should aid in the construction of the Cedar 
Valley branch of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska, and resulted in 
309 votes being cast in favor of so doing and 216 against it. But 
the McGregor, St. Peter and Mississippi railroad having collapsed 
about 1860, the county held another election and recinded all votes 
cast in aid of both the above roads, by very large majorities. 

The first company who broke ground within the limits of the 
county, was the Cedar Valley and Minnesota, who during the sum- 
mer of 1868 graded the road and laid the rails through the south- 
western part of Bradford township. The station at Nashua was 
erected in July of that year. Immediately on the completion of the 
roadjit was leased to the Illinois Central railroad, who furnished the 



174 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

necessary rolling stock to transact the business and who operate 
the road now under the name of the Cedar ITalls and Minnesota 
branch of the Illinois Central. There are, however, but seven 
miles and a small fraction lying within this county. 

On the 9th day of September, 1868, however, ground was broken 
at Calmar, Winnesheik county, by the McGregor and Sioux City 
railroad, and in the early summer of 1869 had entered the bounda- 
ries of Chickasaw county. This road traverses the entire breadth 
of Chickasaw county, crossing the townships of Stapleton, New 
Hampton, Dayton, Chickasaw and a small fraction of Utica, and 
having stations at Lawler, New Hampton, Chickasaw and Bassett 
It is now under the control of the- Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul 
railroad, and designated the Iowa and Dakota division. 

Several attempts have been made to induce the building of 
other roads, notably those running north and south, to secure ad- 
ditional facilities and produce competition, and thereby cheapen 
freight, but at present nothing has come of it, although there 
seems to be a prospect, in the future, for at least one to be com- 
pleted. 




HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 175 



CHAPTER VI. 



Education. — Early School Laws, Tax Rates, and Reports; 
School Superintendents; Present Status; Reports of 
Schools:; Report of School Superintendent; and Teachers, 
Etc. 



educational. 
The United States, although the youngest in the bright brother- 
hood of nations may in truth be said to be the parent of the public 
school. Two hundred years ago, the stern and rigid Puritan, on 
the bleak and rocks shores of New England, originated the district 
school for the inculcation of ideas, to the j youthful 
mind, and it exists to this day in that far away portion of our great 
republic. Our forefathers, in the mighty emgrations which they 
made toward the setting sun, brought with them the germs of t he 
precious seed, and where ever they settled planted it in a fruitful 
soil. Some came to our own noble state, and though the seed 
was in small quantity, verily the harvest is abundant. It 
can now witliout any tear of contradiction, be said, 
that Iowa possesses the best school system in th e 



176 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

world; and Chickasaw county is by no means, in the rear of the 
other counties of the state, in this respect. Let the following exhibit 
of the use of the educational system vouch for the truth of this. 

The first school opened in the county, was one at the old village 
of Bradford in the year 1852, and from this small beginning, 
in thirty years it has grown into a mighty tree, whose outreaching 
branches overshadow every part of it. The first schools were ap- 
parently independent movements brought about by the commun- 
ities in which they were planted for we find no records of any 
thing approaching to concerted action or system until 1855, from 
that period until 1858, there are no records at all owing partially to 
the loose manner, in which all the early papers were kept. After 
that date there seems to be more effort to keep them in proper 
form, and from them we collate the following: 

In 1858 the secretaries of the several school districts, returned 
the following tax rates for school purposes: New Hampton town- 
ship, seven mills; Richland township, five mills; North Washing- 
ton, one mill; Bradford, one mill; Dayton, five mills; Jackson- 
(or Jaxonville, as here spelled,) five mills. 

September 12th, 1859,the permanent school fund, and the school 
•.tax collected in Chickasaw county were apportioned as follows: 

PERMANENT CO. TAX 

TOWNSHIP. SCHOOL FUND. COLLECTED. 

Jacksonville $ 62 12 $ 39 15 

Utica 66 86 42 11 

Washington 31 32 19 44 

Deerfield 56 38 35 53 

Chickasaw 104 40 65 80 

Dayton 32 88 20 92 

New Hampton 49 59 31 26 

Stapleton 33 41 '21 06 

Fredricksburg 51 68 32 57 

Dresden 34 97 22 04 

Richland 53 77 33 89 

Bradford 143 03 90 15 

Totals mo 41 $453 92 

October 3d, 1859, J. C. Strong, county superintendent of Chick- 
asaw county schools, filed the following abstract of the number of 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



177 



youths, between the ages of five and. twenty-one years, residing in 
each township and school district: 

TOWNSHIP. MALES. FEMAES. TOTALS. 

Bradford 143 144 287 

Chickasaw 125 90 215 

Dayton 22 23 45 

Deerfield 51 60 111 

Dresden 25 43 68 

Fredericksburg 47 32 79 

Jacksonville, 62 56 118 

New Hampton, 71 57 128 

Richland, 33 57 90 

Stapleton 35 34 69 

Utica 73 73 146 

Washington 33 30 63 

Total 720 699 1,419 

Apportionment of school moneys April, 1860: 

TOWNSHIPS. PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND. CO. TAX. 

Bradford $ 170 38 $ 163 14 

Chickasaw 127 55 122 21 

Dayton 26 70 25 58 

Deerfield 65 87 63 10 

Dresden 40 35 38 65 

Fredricksburg 46 88 44 90 

Jacksonville 70 03 67 07 

New Hampton 76 00 72 75 

Richland ! 53 40 51 15 

Stapleton 40 94 39 22 

TItica 86 64 82 99 

Washington 37 39 35 81 

Totals $842 13 $806 57 

Report of G. J. Tisdale, county superintendent, for 1860: 

TOWNSHIPS. MALES. FEMALES. TOTAL. 

Bradford 144 149 293 

Richland 31 53 84 

Dresden 35 40 75 

Fredricksburg 52 50 102 

Stapleton 33 37 70 



« 



178 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



New Hampton 81 66 147 

Dayton 27 25 52 

Chickasaw 118 101 219 

Deerfield 51 54 105 

Washington 37 35 72 

Jacksonville 51 60 111 

Utica 82 78 161 

Totals 743 748 1,491 

PUPILS 1880. 

-^ h U 1^ 

'-<i ^ - l-j CD 1-1. M 

^ S Ho • t--^- 

JO CD <^ ti M ' 

f^ P ►S CD^ ^ O 

TOWNSHIPS. MALES. FEMALES. 

Bradford 213 233 299 153 1.60 

Chickasaw 169 121 240 122 1.85 

Deerfield 224 191 286 182 1.60 

Jacksonville 231 239 282 177 1.64 

Utica 254 240 443 177 1.24 

Dayton 188 130 198 99 2.33 

Dresden 126 138 252 115 167 

Fredricksburg 148 124 236 128 1.69 

New Hampton 112 118 203 95 2.08 

Richland 145 169 237 122 y^f 

Stapleton 150 136 221 124 1.49 

Washington 259 224 298 169 1.33 

Ind. Districts. 

Chickasaw 47 49 78 33i .79 

Fredricksburg 36 38 86 62 .95 

Ionia ^,54 72 82 62 .95 

Lawler 145 125 166 116 1.04 

Nashua 194 188 354 214 1.03 

New Hampton 195 228 311 178 3.23 

The earliest records in the office of the county suj^erintendent 
of schools begin on the 20th of October, 1862, on which date it ap- 
pears of entry thatHhe board of supervisors appointed Thomas N. 
Hkinner, superintendent in the place of J. A. Sawin. Skinner 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 179 

entered upon the discharge of his duties the same day, 
and went to Bradford to attend a teachers' institute. Skinner's 
last entry is of date January 6th, 1864, and the first entry by his 
successor, F. D. Bosworth, apjDears on the blank day of January, 
1864. 

Records of examinations for teachers' certificates comprise the 
greater portion of Skinner's entries, together with itemized ac- 
counts of his expenses and sums due for official services. The 
enterics show, however, a very fair degree of energy on his part 
and quite a number of visitations upon the schools of the county. 
In the light of latter-day blank forms and other facilities for mak- 
ing out reports, etc., these early records appear somewhat primi- 
tive, but none the less evince the progressive spirit which . has 
paved the way to the present orderly system. 

The first entry of an official visit by superintendent Skinner is 
given below precisely as it appears in the records, as a specimen 
report of the more or less simelar memoranda which follows : 



''June 2, 1863, 

journalized from 

memorandum 

Teacher 

Miss Rose Doud, 

wages $12 per 

month. 



Faulty ortho- 
graphy. 



Stapleton school district, May 20, 1863. 
Visited school in sub-district No. 2 in Staple- 
ton. School taught by Miss Rose Doud. School 
room neat and in order. Vase of flowers. 
Pupils enrolled 8 

Pupils 2 in first grade 2 

Pupils 2 in 3 grade 2 

Pupils 4 in 4 grade 4 

8 
Wages $12 per month. A first-class school 
for a small one. Rented room for school." 

Mr. Skinner is not always so complimentary in his reports, 
however; "faulty in orthography" is a comment which frequently 
appears, and there are other criticisms set forth with a chaiming 
degree of frankness unusual in our day of apologetic literature. Mr. 
S. evidently believed in calling a spade a spade. One teacher is 
"not well qualified;" in one school the room contained "no flowers 
or anything to make it pleasant; another is "too full a school 
for the house;" one school house is in "common order," and the 
school under "medium government." Then there are "a poor 
teacher, not fitted for the school;" a school that is "not neat;" a 
teacher that "hasn't energy enough for teaching successfully," 



180 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

*nd a teacher who "needs more education." Indeed, according to 
Mr. Skinner, there is quite a number^of the latter class. We learn 
also of a "good teacher" who is "conceited" and "does not stimu- 
late to higher standards;" a "national" teacher; a "nervous" 
teacher; a "middling" school, and are informed that "every school 
in the county is deficient in books" — better supplied, hewever, than 
the superintendent had anticipated." 

The wages, it will be ol)served, were generally less than one-half 
the wages paid at the present time, twelve dollars per month being 
the usual sum, and fifteen dollars the highest paid save in the 
Bradford schools, where the principal, A. M. Mott, received forty- 
five dollars and his assistant. Miss Louisa Robinson, twenty dol- 
lars per month. 

According to a resolution of the board of supervisors of the 
county, adopted at the June term 1863, the county superintendent 
was directed to visit and grade the various schools of the county 
agreebly to the instructions of the secretary of the state board of 
education, and that the schools be so graded that the pupils may 
advance in any one study when found to be so qualified. 

SCHOOL SYSTEM A NUSIANCE. 

At the same term of the board of county solons it was:- "Re- 
solved, That the board of supervisors of Chickasaw county, Iowa, 
deem after long expcrince and mature reflection, the present 
school of the state of Iowa a nusiance — a conglomerate of misun- 
derstandings and inconsistencies, having a direct tendency to 
squander the school fund and not benefiting the youth of our state 
but very little; and that we woukVrecommend and use our influence 
to have the present school law remodeled, and each sub-district 
made a body corporate, thereby allowing each sub-district of the 
townships to have the exclusive control and management of their 
own school matters, and that the county superintendent be in- 
structed to forward a copy of this resolution to the secretary of the 
board of education." 

The first teachers institute recorded convened October 3d, 1864. 
The principal portion of the entry is as follows: 

"Agreeable to notice, teachers met at New Ham])ton to open an 
institute. Institute opened at 2 p. m„ and organized by selecting 
F. D. Bosworth, chairman, and D. F. Callender, secretary. J. L. 
Enos had been selected as lecturer, and to conduct the exercises 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 181 

during the session of the institute. The order of exercises was 
then read, and the meeting adjourned." 

Upon reassembly on the following day, the meeting was con- 
ducted in accordance with the programme read on the preceeding 
day, as was also the case on the 5tli, 6th, and 7th, and on ■ the 8th 
resolutions were adopted and oflicers selected for the ensuing year. 
The session closed at 12 m. on the 8th. 

J. C. Johnson succeeded Mr. Bosworth in 1866, and in 1870 W. 
P. Bennett appears as successor to Johnson. In October of the 
latter year the name of Jos. F. Grawe appears as succeeding Mr. 
Bennett. And at the election of October 11th, 1870, Jos. F. Grawe 
was reelected to fill the same office by almost the unanimous voice 
of the people, there being but three votes cast against him. The 
same gentleman seemed to be as great a favorite at the election of 
October 10th, 1871, and continued to hold the office at the bidding 
of the great majority of his fellow citizens, until January 4th, 1875, 
and O. A. Truman wha appointed, by the board of supervisors, to 
fill the vacancy; which he filled until superceded liy Major W. D. 
Collins, who was elected October 12th, 1875. He was succeeded 
by H. A. Simons who was elected October 18th, 187*), and was 
replaced by J. A. Lapham the present incumbent whose election 
occurred on the 11th day of October, 1881, his opponent being a 
very popular man, Oscar A.- McFarland now principal of the 
Lawler school: 

Compensation of Teachers of County, 1880-81. 

No. Employed. Compensation yev Mo. 

TOWNSHIP. MALES. FEMALES. MALES. FEMALES. 

Bradford 7 16 $28 77 $23 47 

Chickasaw 5 14 27 34 19 05 

Deerfield 2 23 23 75 24 46 

•Jacksonville 4 20 21 75 20 14 

Utica 7 14 22 36 18 85 

Dayton 4 11 29 50 20 60 

Dresden 3 10 22 33 23 27 

Fredericksburg. 6 9 26 66 19 46 

New Hampton 7 10 24 54 20 19 

Richland 5 8 28 25 21 70 

Stapleton : 4 5 22 15 19 90 

Washington 3 8 24 25 24 74 



182 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



Ind. Districts. 

Chickasaw 2 

Fredricksburg 

Ionia 1 

Lawler 1 

Nashua 1 

New Hampton 2 

The number and value of school houses according to the report 
of county superintendent for 1881. 

Number School House. 

BRICK. 



2 
4 
1 
2 

4 

7 



27 50 

35 00 
53 33 

80 00 
50 00 



25 00 
28 50 
25 66 
32 50 
35 00 
25 63 



TOWNSHIP. FRAME 

Bradfoad 11 

Chickasaw 8 

Deerfield 10 

Jacksonville 6 

Utica 10 

Dayton 7 

Dresden 8 

Fredericksburg. 9 

New Hampton. 8 

Richland 6 

StajDleton 7 

Washington 7 

Ind. Dist's. 

Chickasaw 1 

Fredericksburg. 1 

Ionia 1 

Lawler 1 

Nashua 

New Hampton.. .. 



STONE. 



VALUE. 

$ 6 600 



Value of 

APPARATUS. 



2 
2 
1 
3 
2 
3 
4 
2 
3 
2 
2 



200 
825 
300 
150 
450 
210 
475 
150 
300 
450 
275 



30. 
43. 
135 
186 
156 
337 
65 
60 



2 100 

. 700 

2-000 

4 000 

12 000 

700 



In 1882, according to the reports, as filed with the county audi- 
tor, it is found that there are in the county 5,257 children, between 
the ages of five and twenty-one years, divided among the several 
townships as follows: 



TOWNSHIP. NO. OF MALES. 

Bradford 367 

Chickasaw 233 

Deerfield 180 

Jacksonville 210 



NO. OF FEMALES. 

372 

• 293 

163 

234 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



185 



Utica 226 

Fredericksburg 180 

Stapleton 259 

New Hampton 336 

Dayton 128 

Dresden 106 

Richland 139 

Washington 250 

Total 2614 

2643 

Grand total 5257 

Report of number of schools in each sub-district for the 
1880 and 1881: 

1880. 1881. 

TOWNSHIP. NO. SUB-DIST. NO. ROOM. NO. SUB-DIST. NO 

Bradford 10 12 10 

Chickasaw 8 8 8 

Deerfield 12 11 12 

Jacksonville 11 12 11 

Utica 10 10 10 

Dayton 7 7 7 

Dresden 8 8 8 

Fredericksburg 9 9 9 

New Hampton 8 8 8 

Richland 6 6 6 

Stapleton 7*7 7 

Washington..... 6 8 8 

Ind. districts. 

Chickasaw 12 1 

Ionia 12 1 

Lawler 13 1 

Nashuar. 15 1 

New Hampton 1 5 1 . 

Fredericksburg 12 1 

Bradford high school. .. .. 1 

Total 108 125 111 



. 196 
156 
275 
395 
116 
110 
123 
210 

2643 



years, 



ROOM. 

11 

8 
11 
12 
10 

7 
8 
9 
8 
6 
7 
8 

2 
2 
3 
6 
5 
2 
1 

126 



184 HISTORY OF CHICKA.SAW COUNTY. 

The following is condensed from a report of J.*A.Lapham, county- 
superintendent, for 1882. 

There are at present one hundred and twenty -nine teachers em- 
ployed in the public schools of Chickasaw county. There are one 
hundred and five county school houses, leaving twenty four teach- 
ers employed in the towns and villages. Of these New Hampton 
has eight, Nashua seven, Lawler Ionia, Chickasaw and Fredricks- 
burg tw-o teachers each. Bradford township sustains a high school. 
Deerfiield and Jacksonville each hired another teacher in the sum- 
mer season, making a total requisite of one hundred thirty-one 
teachers to supply our public schools. 

Of this corps of teachers two (Profs Simons and Felker) hold 
professional certificates. Thirty-eight hold firstclass certificates* 
Eighteen of these are employed in the towns and villages and 
twenty are in the country schools. Sixty-five have second-class 
certificates and twenty -seven have third-class certificates. 

The number of scholars in the county between the ages of five 
and twenty -one, as indicated by secretaries' reports, is 4999. 2564 
are males, 2435 are females. This statement may vary from the 
facts somewhat, as in a number of instances the secretaries wrote 
that they had failed to ascertain the exact number in their respec- 
tive districts. I regret that this should be true. A little effort on 
the part of each officer will give a correct report. Further informa- 
tion from the same source shows the average attendance to be 2325, 
or about forty -six per cent of the number of school age. Of course 
many of school age do not attend at all, so that the average daily 
attendance compared with the enrollment is much larger. It, how- 
ever in some instances falls below fifty per cent. 

The average cost per month for each pupil is about SI. 68. This 
refers to the amount paid teachers. Contingent expenses raise it 
to more than two dollars per scholar. In one district the amount 
per scholar per month was $4.57; in another $4.50. In a number of 
instances it amounted to over three dollai"8. 

Not unfrequently this record is made where there are enough 
children in the disti«t for a good school if they would (or could) 
•attend. 

When we remember that our public schools cost us between 



\ ' ■ HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 185 

$8,000 atid $10,000 yearly, in addition to the amount permaiieiitly 
invested in school property, it is a question of deep interest 
whether they are giviurg us the results we have a right to ex- 
pect. 

In instances not a few, a good teacher is devoting her time to 
five or six pupils while there are eight, ten, or fifteen more in the 
neighborhood who ought to be in school. 

Of our teachers, about forty are males and ninety are females. 
Cases of trouble in school have been very rare indeed within the 
last^year. In many of the country schools ladies are doing as effi- 
cient work as the men (in winter as well as in summer). 

We have at present many good, true teachers in the county. 
On them do we depend largely for the successful issue of the graded 

system. 

The subject of wages has received some attention the last year. 
A willingness to pay good teachers for their labor is more manifest. 
In the district townships Utica, Jacksonville and Deerfield have 
taken the lead, Utica pays $24, $27 and $30, according to grade of 
certificate. Jackson^dlle is but S3 behind on first-class certificates 
and $2 on the others 

Deerfield pays thirty dollars to most of her teachers indiscrim- 
inately. We know of three teachers in independent districts 
(country schools)who receive thirty-five dollars per month. A few 
received thirty-two dollars, and many thirty dollars. We respect- 
fully suggest that it would be well to grade the wages in all the 
districts in the county. Where this is done a manifest injustice is 
frequently worked. 

I am pleased to note that our first class teachers are in stronger 
demand. They are found to be far cheaper even when paid five to 
ten dollars more per month. 

There have been three new school houses built within the last 
year. One in Jacksonville, one in New Hampton, and one at 

North Washington. Better houses are being built. 
Our annual institute had an enrollment of one hundred and 



186 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



three. Young men find it almost impossible to attend in the 
Bummer season. They furnish part of the money to sustain the 
institute, and (by their request) I think an arrangment for a session 
of one week in March for those who cannot attend next summer, 
and for young aspirants who will enter the work for the first time 
next spring. In many cases they have had no preparation for 
teaching whatever. 

I have endeavored in this annual report to state the condition 
and prospects of our public schools as nearly as possible. 




HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 18T 



CHAPTER VII. 

Census at Various Dates; Abstract of Assessment Rolls; 
Value op Property in County, Etc. 

The census returns of the assessors, as made at a special term of 
the county court, July 21st, 1856, were as follows: 

Bradford 589 

Chickasaw 508 

Deerfield 325 

Obispo 488 

Richland Ill 

Yankee ; 522 

Total enumeration of Chickasaw county 2 543 

The returns for 1857 were: 

Deerfield 263 

North Washington 179 

Obispo (part) 333 

Stapleton 225 

Obispo (part) 335 



188 HISTORY OF CHICKLASAW COTXNTY. 

New Hampton 256 

Dayton 136 

Chickasaw 504 

Bradford 987 

Richland and Fredericksburg 786 

Total enumeration of Chickasaw county 4 024 

ABSTRACT OF THE CENSUS OP CHICKASAW COUNTY FOR 1859. 

No. of males 2 033 

No. of females 1 783 

Total population 3 816 

No. entitled to vote....: 914 

No of militia 793 

No. of foreigners not naturalized 144 

No of children between the ages of five and t-wenty- 

one yeai-s , 1 249 

No. of acres of improved lands 12 754^ 

No. of acres of unimproved lands 299 570 J 

No. of acres of sorghum 461 

No. of gallons of mollasses from sorghum 2 887 

No of acres of orchards 81i 

No of tons of hay from Hungarian grass 3 

No. of acres of meadow 639 J 

No. of tons of hay 8 684 

No. of bushels of grass seed 29i 

No of acres of spring wheat 3 032 

No. of bushels of spring wheat harvested 10 425 

No. of acres of winter wheat 10 

No. bushels of winter wheat harvested 13 

No. of acresof oats'. 1 711 J 

No. of btishels of oats harvested 14 514 

No. of acres of coriu 3 153i 

No. of bushels of corn harvested 53 821 

No. of of acres of potatoes 317 

No. of bushels of potatoes harvested 13 519 

No. of hogs sold 569 

Value of h-ogs sold $2 81840 

No. of cattle sold, 674 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 189 

Value of cattlesold , $14 292 

No. of pounds of butter manufactured 71 234 

No. of pounds of cheese manufacture ^ 10 111 

No. of pounds of wool grown 2 226 

Value of domestic manufactures $363 

Value of general manufactures $4 020 

Value of agricultural implements f $17 390 

No. of dwelling houses 772 

No. of families 772 

The whole number of inhabitantants in Chickasaw county, ac- 
cording to the return of the United States mxirshal, appointed to 
take the census of the county, in 1860, was 4,740. 

The following is a consolidated report from the assessment of 
the county as returned for the year 1879: 

Polls. 2,910 

Acres of land 316,070 

Town property 

No. of cattle. 15,420 

No. of horses 6,790 

No. of mules 127 

Na. of sheep 1,740 

No. of swine 7,995 

No. of vehicles taxable 311 

Merchandise 

M9,nulactures 

Monies and credits 

Other taxabl property 

Or a total of all property of $2,401,242.00 to which 
added those articles of p^^oj^erty exempt from taxation, viz: $67,- 
748-.00 making a grand total of $2,468,990.00 as being the wealtli 
of the county for that year. 

The report, from the assessment sheet, for 1881, shows as fol- 
lows: 

No. of pons 2,874 Value 

Aci-esofl»iid 3H315 " $1725 724 

Town property...., " 134 934 

No.ofcattle 16,244 " 159 755 

No. of lK)i-ses , . 7,241 " 186 456 



alue $1 


809 475 00 


■U 


156 632 00 




107 926 00 




187 275 00 




3 863 00 




1 261 00 




7 911 00 




5 311 00 




51 477 00 




4 490 00 




73 315 00 




7 194 00 


to which 


should be 



190 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

No. of mules 103 

No. of sheep 1,601 

No. of swine 6,796 

No of vehicles taxable. . . . 299 

Merchandise 

Maufactures 

Monies and credits 

Other property 

$23 537 41 
According to the report of the census marshal who took the 
census of 1880 — there were in the county in that year 14,537 in- 
habitants of all ages, sex and color. The town of New Hampton 
being credited with 1,147, Nashua 1,116, and Lawler 487, the bal- 
ance being distributed throughout the rural districts and smaller 
towns. 



cc 


3 022 


<c 


1 601 


(( 


9 772 


tt 


4 787 




44 288 




3 140 




67 754 




12 508 




HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 191 



CHAPTET VIII. 



Bradford Township; Location; Early Settlement; Village 
OF Bradford; Nashua; Settlements; Churches; Schools; 
Societies; Etc. 



BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 

The history of Bradford township, in the days of the pioneers, 
is closely allied to that of the county, and the history of the latter 
is the history of the former, inasmuch that there we find 
the first hardy settlers, who located in that vicinity, when aU the 
balance of the county lay in its primeval solitude. 

Its territory embraces all of township 94 north, 14 west, and com- 
prises 36 sections. It is plentifully watered by the Cedar and 
Little Cedar, with their affluents in the west, and Two Mile run 
and its branches, in the east. On the former are several very fine 
mill sites, which have been improved. The Cedar Falls and 
Minnesota branch of the Illinois Central railroad, traverse a small 
part of it having, a depot at the city of Nashua; the only impor- 
tant, but not the oldest town in the district. 

Long prior to any settlement, within the boundary of the present 
county, there was a trading post and station, and an Indian bury- 



192 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

ing ground, near where the town of Bradford now stands, and 
about the year 1840, a Mr. Wheeler had obtained a contract 
from the government, to break up and fence, some 400 acres of 
land for the Indians to cultivate; it being the intention of the go v- 
ermnent to treat it as a reservation for some Winnebago Indians. 
The breaking being done, during the summer of that year. His 
employes, who did the work were, Barber, McCormick, Gilmore, 
two brothers named Benson, Joe Parsons and of the latter we have 
gained the knowledge of these facts. Parsons reports that, at that 
time, the country abounded in all kinds of large game; bears, elk, 
and deer, and the streams were filled with fish; he shortly left the 
county and went back to Illoinis,' where he staid until about 1861, 
when be returned, and settled in the southern part of Richland 
township, where he still resides. 

In the following winter Mr. Wheeler and his sons returned, and 
engaged in making the rails and fencing in the ground. It was a 
moet beautiful tract of land, and well fenced. The next year the In- 
dians were brought on to the land, but the experiment indulged 
in by the government, like many others proved a failure, the 
Indians being unprovident and disinclined to work. Prairie fires 
destroyed the fences, and soon all went to decay and ruin. The 
trading post referred to above was a log house and stood at the 
south end of the grove on,what is now known as the Cagley estate. 
The above could hardly be called a settlement, as no white fami- 
liee located then, bu-t in the year 1848, Truman Merritt settled, 
with his family, on the east side of the Little Cedar, near where 
Greenwood now is.- Here then he built 'his family mansion, of the 
logs from the trees that surrounded him and settled down a 
pioneer of pioneers; here then was born unto him a daughter, in 
1850, the first white child born in the county, who, after grow- 
ing to womanhood, married Avery Earl, and still resides near the 
city of Nashua. About 1851 some other settlers came into thje 
township among whom we find the names of John and J. A. J. 
Bird and Wm. Tucker, and followed shortly after by Edward 
Jones arvl his sons Alexander and John, and Andrew Sample, 
(.Ullet, Case and others. A son of Mr. Case, Elmer by name, 
having been born in 1851, near Greenwood enjoys th§ distinction 
of being the first male child born in the county. Tradition hath 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 193 

it that about the year 1850 there came into the'county a man "by 
the "vame of DeForest, he was an old bachelor and lived as a 
heiu.it in the woods, and pursued the avocation of hunter, and 
trapper, he afterwards moved into Bradford, where he died, but 
in what year "deponent saith not." The brothers John and J. A. 
J. Bird settled at the place where the town of Bradford was subse- 
quently platted, and the emigrants that arrived during 1851 and 
'52 seem for the most part to have S'elected that vicinity, here then 
grew a town just above the junction of the two Cedar rivei-s, which 
was, by the expectation of those early settlers to, be the com- 
ing metropolis of the west, a Chicago of the Iowa prairies, but 
their hopes were far from realization, and although the town has 
one of the most beautiful locations in the county, still its glory 
has departed, and it hides its diminished head and awaits calndy 
the end. Here in 1854 was located the county seat which distinc- 
tion Bi'adford held until 1857 when the seat of justice was taken 
to New Hampton. 

We find that in tbie year 1852 Peter Perkins and Kaufman 

located at Bradford, and should be enrolled among the names «f 
those early settlers, we liave tried to rescue from oblivion, as should 
also that of Samuel Brink, who can?e in 1853. In 1852, according to 
most accounts, the first school was opened, but by whom tauglit 
has passed from the memory of the oldest inhabitant. 

The first court house was built at Bradford, in 1854, and was 
the primitive log house, without ceiling, common to the ai'^hitec- 
ture of those early days, and in it were held all the public meet- 
ings. James Lyon was the first county judge. 

The first and second sermons ever preached in Chick- 
asaw county were by an itinerent Methodist minist(n-, by the 
name of Ingam, at the house of John Bird, tlie tliird by 
a Mr. Coleman, a Congregational minister, — these in the 
year 1853. Afterwalds a few sermons were preache<i by A. D. 
Babcock, a Baptist minister, but the first church society oi-gan- 
ized was at Bradford, in the fall of 1855, and was Congregational 
in denomination, and of which tiie Rev. O. Littlefield was the first 
pastor. This church being the oldest in the county, will be more 
fully referred to elsewhere. A good story, illustrating the rough- 
ness of the times, is told regarding the second sermon, of Mr. In- 



194 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

gam. It serins that a portion, and a large one at that, of the 
men seemed to take offence at something he had reproved them 
for in in his first sermon, gave out that if he attempted to repeat 
it, he should receive a drubbing, but not detered by their threats, 
he assayed to speak the second sermon, as we have said, at the 
house of John Bird, as soon as he liad begiin an ominous 
gathering of men was seen to approach, each armed with a club 
and headed by Andrew Sample, a typical frontiersman, who could 
out swear, out drive, wade through more snow, and was fuller of 
energy than "any other man," and who hnd been loudest in 
in his denunciations. The crowd approached and instead 
of at once proceeding to hostilities — remained to listen awhile, 
and something the speaker said so touched the firey heart, of their 
leader, that on the conclusion of the services, he approached Mr. 
Ingam, and putting out his brawny fist, swore that he s hould 
preach there when ever he d — ned pleased, and he would lick the 
man who dared deny him, and throwing away his club called on 
his companions to do likewise, and Mrs. Bird gathered up enough 
of them, next day to answer for stove wood for sometime. 

The above Andrew Sample was the first sheriff, of the county, 
and was one of the most prominent men in the infant settlement, 
having done as much or more than any other man, in developing 
that region of country, he finally returned to his native state, 

Missouri, where he now resides. 
In 1854 it was the only town in the county, and continued to be the 

leading one until 1860, since which time it has steadily retrograd- 
ed, until it has become almost the "deserted village" of the plains. 
The town was platted on land belonging to the Birds,, and they for 
many years were the most prominent citizens. The township was 
organized by Jno. and J. A. J. Bird and others by order of the county 
court, in March, 1855, and comprised of township 94 ranges 13 and 
14 or what now are known as Bradford and Richland townships, 
but at the March term of said court in 1856, the latter was sepera- 
ted from Bradford, and organized as Richland township. 

Here we should notice, that the church, erected in Bradford in 
the early days of the county's history, by the Congregational 
society, still stands one of the landmarks of that section — still its 
spire pointing upward seems the monitor bidding all prepare for 
that journey all must take. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 195 

W. S. Pitts, M. D., of Fredericksburg, has made it immorta 
through that beautiful song, "The Little Brown Church in the 
Vail." Sevices are still held in it, the Rev. C. A. Marshal, of 
Nashua, being the ofliciating clergyman. 

According to the best accounts the first store, in the village of 
Bradford, was kept by J. A. J. Bird who afterwards sold it out to a 
Mrs. Chapman ; it was but a small affair at the best, and was noted 
for never having much of any stock, but it deserves a place in his- 
tory, as the first attempt at merchandising in the township; the 
date, however, when it was opened is in considerable doubt, but 
was probably about 1853. After this Pooler and Nicholas opened 
a lai-ger and more pretentious store, followed shortly by Fritcher 
and Marinus, both kept dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, 
hardware, drugs, and everything else. There was also about this 

time a, store by Eastman of the same general charcater. We 

have been assured that, the first store after Mr. Bird's was kept by 
Haskell and Mandeville, but of this there seems to be S(ime doubt; 
but in 1855 they were among the merchants, along with Leland 
and Sample, the latter firm however confining themselves to cloth- 
ing and groceries, Haskell and Hubbell, A. W. Billings and 
Lonson Covey, were also among the merchants of those early 
days. 

These were succeeded by several others, but E. R. Dickerson 
alone remains of all, and at the present writing, is the sole merchant 
in the village. 

A saw mill was erected, at Bradford, by Andrew Sample, in the 
year 1854, but which was afterwards moved aAvay on the dam 
being washed out by a freshet. Two steam mills were afterwards 
erected, one by the Bird Bros, and the other by Haskell and 
Mitchell, but both were destroyed by fire in a few years. 

A hotel was erected by Geo. Brunson in 1854, and has been 
known as the Brunson House to this day, it was originally a small 
frame building, but has liad numerous additions built on. Prior 
to this Dan'l. Fritcher had a log building, where he had day 
boarders, and sold meals to the weary travellers, who came into 
town, for in those days this town was the general stopping j^lace 
for all of the stage lines, and for emigrants, seeking a home in the 
boundless west. 



196 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

The first Blacksmith and wagon maker, was Wm. Dow, who wai 
the foreman in a shop erected^and o^med by the hotel keeper, Geo, 
Brnnson, but almost simiiltaneousl}^, the Ellis Bros., opened 
another shop for the same business, and Peter Perkins an- 
other; it is in considerablekiispute which of these last named was 
first. 

"Pigs Eye" was the euphonious name of the leading saloon of 
those early days, was kept by a man by the name of Dodge, a 
small, detbrmed individual, ^since dead. Although prior to hi» 
establishing himself, a man'*|by^the name of Herbert had a small 
saloon, which is belived to have been the first in the town- 
ship. 

About 1856, when the minds of all were excited, with the 
growing importance of the toAvn, a large three story hotel was 
partially erected, but it was never enclosed, and long stood, a 
monument to the fallacy of human foresight, and was known to 
all for many years, as "Brink's Folly," after the man who essayed 
to build it. It finally, was torn down and used for kindling 
wood. 

Henry Johnson was the first justice of the peace, and a rough 
uncouth specimen he was, many irreverent storys are told of him, 
among others, is related, that the.first oath in the township was 
administered by him, under the following circumstances: A man 
named Horton, being arrested for stealing hogs,was brought before 
Johnson for trial, who at once proceeded to swear the prisoner, in 
a manner unprecedented, and probably unequalled in the annals 
of justice. 

"By the uplifted hand of Almighty God, did you steel those 
hogs ? if you did, you hope to be teetototally, G — d-d — ned. So 
help you God." 

History doth not record his answer, but it is to be supposed 
that the tremendous force ot the oath brought the necessary con- 
fession from the criminal, if criminal he was. 

The first physician who located at Bradford was a "root and 
herb doctor," as he was called, whose name was S. 0. Haynes, who 
located there about 1855. He was an eccentric genius, and drove 
instead of horses, a pair of Elk harnessed to his wagon or sleigh. 
In 1856, Dr. S. S. Troy, a regular practitioner, came to Bradford 



' HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 1 97 

and entered up on the duties of his profession, which proved 
quite lucrative, liere he staid healing the sick, and succoring ttie 
wounded, until he entered the service of the government in the 
great Cival war, as Leiut. of Co. H. 4th Iowa Calvalry, afterwards 
promoted to Captain; when he trurned from the front, he located 
at Nashua, where he still resides, being engaged in practice of 
medicine, and the senior partner in the- drug house of Troy and 
Mon-ison. 

NASHUA. 

This most important and prosperous town is located on the 
Cedar river, opposite the mouth of the Little Cedar; immediately 
north of it lies a heavy body of timber. On ground high enough to 
be above all fear of a flood, yet with a gentle inclination eastward, 
and amply protected from the prevailiug high winds, by high 
ground crested with woods. 

Most valuable and excellent water power is afforded by the 
Cedar river, on the north of the town, and the Greeley flouring 
mill, thereon erected, is said to be one of the best in this section. 

A fine broad and well graded street, one block west of the track 
of the C. F. and M. Divison of the Illinois Centrol R. R. is lined with 
substantial buisness houses, many of them quite ornamental, brick 
and stone being the favorite, materal of which they are built. The 
residence portion of the city lies west of this, and many handsome 
nay palatial, mansions, adorn, and are adorned by the beautiful 
groves of the trees in Avhich they are embowered. Broad avenues 
lined with trees, lie before the eye and excuse the pride its inhab- 
itants take in their town. Andreas State atlas, says of this 
city. 

"A large section of surrounding country in Chickasaw and Floyd 
and Bremer counties contributes to the commercial importance 
of the place. This portion of the Cedar Valley justly celebrated 
for its productiveness, and the advanced state of improvement 
which it displays. Here in the midst of such a country, with no 
important town nearer than Waverly in one dirction and Charles 
City in the other, Nashua is most advantageously situed to draw 
the mercantile trade, and the grain of the country to its market 
foj shipment or manufacture from a wide distance. 



198 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

"The business of the town is extensive and continually increasing. 

It embraces a large number of good mercantile houses, in all 

branches, shops of nearly all descriptions, good hotels, foundry, 

bank, printing office, dealers in grain, farming implements, lumber 

etc., etc. It is represented by a liberal array of talent in the legal 

and medical professions. 

"The town has several church organizations, and good houses of 

worship. Its public schools are well maintained, and graded upon 
a most efficient system, employing a principal and three or more 
assistants as instructors. They are provided with a commodious 
and well furnished pubic school building which affords ample facil- 
ities for the purpose. 

"Excellent building stone is found in quarries convenient to the 
town, and an abundance of good brick manufactured near by." 

Among the first to settle on the site of the now town of Nashua 

we find the name of Mr. John Hall, who came here in the summer 

of 1854, when there was but one log house, and erected a frame 

building, but no sash or doors could be had nearer than McGregor, 

and he and his family were compelled to pass the winter in it 

without the necessary protection against the wintry blasts. In 

1855 several more families moved in, and among them were those 

of Jas. Helms, George O'Donnell, H. Hall, J. D. Hall, Jacob Hall, 

Edward Hall, Owen Teeney, John O'Donnell, Hugh O'Donnell, 

Jas. Welch and Enoch Woodbridge (universally known as Deacon 

Woodbridge). The land belonged to Andrew Sample, but selling or 

trading a half interest to Enoch Woodbridge, they platted a town, 

and called it at first Bridgeport, but it was shortly afterward 

changed to Woodbridge, but was altered to its present name by E. 

P. and C. Greeley, after Nashua, N. H. 

The man who first essayed to start a store was Smiley Sample, 

a brother of Andrew, who had a small place where he dispensed 

groceries and liquors, this was in the spring of 1856, although it is 

claimed by some that E. P. Greeley had the first store where 

every thing was kept. Mr. Greeley started his place in the same 

year at any rate. B T. Hall now a resident of the town being his 

clerk, business however becoming good he was followed shortly 

afterwards by others, and we find among the merchants, who 

Baught the patronage of the people in 1857, and 8, the following 

names: Veter and Rupe, general merchandise, Trott and Green, 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 199 

dry goods and groceries, Geo. T. Butterfield, Enoch Woodbridge 
Elihu Hall, Geo. H. Fountain and Jas. A. Webster. In 1857 
Andrew Sample erected a grist mill which stood for ten years when 
it was torn down, for tlie erection of the Greeley mill. 

John Hall was the first carpenter and millright, and with him 
may be named, Stephenson, the date of whose location was almost 
identical; John Butler was the first blacksmith, John Colt the first 
wagon-maker. 

During the year 1856, A. D. Babcock a free-will Baptist preached 
at the house of John Hall, there being no church. 

W. Read was the first shoemaker in Nashua and this disciple of 
Crispin located himself here about 1855. 

The city of Nashua was incorporated under the law of the state 
of Iowa in 1867, we give a copy of the petition for said incorpora- 
tion presented to the board of supervisors June 8rd 1867. 

To the honorable board of Supervisors of Chickasaw county, 
Iowa.' 

We, the undersigned residents and legal voters within the 
following described territory, being anxious that the same should 
be incorporated, and that we may enjoy the privileges conferred 
by the statute of Iowa upon corporated towns, petition your 
honorable body asking that the following territory be set apart for 
that purpose, namely : 

The south half of section 18, excepting tha north-east of the 
southeast quarter. The north half of section 19. The west half of the 
north west quarter of section 20 and west half of the south west 
quarter of section 17, the same containing seven hundred and 
sixty acres (760) in township ninety-four range fourteen and 
includeing witliin it the prpsent part of Nashua as recorded, in 
the recorder's office of Chickasaw county, Iowa, and appended 
hereunto is a map or plat of said territory. 

And we further ask that the name of such incorporated town 
be Nashua. And we hereby appoint and authorize the following 
named persons to present this petition to your honorable body viz: 
E. D. Woodbridge, R. M. Nevins, E. P. Greeley, S. P. Leland, 
Andy Felt, S. W. Byers and John Coler. In the hopes that our 
humble petition may be granted by your honorable body we sub- 
scribe our names here unto. 

Signed by S. P. Spindler and 36 others. 



200 HISTORY OP CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

The board of supervisors took immediate action on the above, and 
by a vote, the prayer was granted, and steps were taken to perfect the 
incorporation. 

In 1868 Rosenbaum Bros, opened a banking office which was 
most successfully conducted until 1870, when a stock company 
was formed, who bought out the above firm (they retaining some 
interest) and organized the bank of Nashua. 

In 1877 a bank was started in a small way by A. J. Felt, who 
continued it until in March, 1879, when the First National bank 
was organized with a capital of $60,000 A. G. Case Pres., A. J. Felt 
jcashier. In January, 1880, deeining that one bank was sufficient 
for the needs of the community, the bank of Nashua was merged 
into the First National bank. Shortly after which A. J. Felt 
retiring Amos Case became cashier. 

Aug. 1st 1880 Louis Slimmer cashier of the Butler Co. bank, 
Clarksville, Iowa, and Lipman Loser late cashier of the bank of 
Nashua, opened a banking office under the firm name of Loser and 
Slimmer, which has proved more than successful, and is one of 
the prominent business houses of the city. 

The first grist mill in Nashua, was one built in 1857, by Andrew 
Sample, J. S. Hall and T. Ervin, being the carpenters and mill-right. 
This mill stood for eight years and was torn down by E. P. Greeley 
to build the present fine one which enjoys the reputation of being 
one of the best in the northern part of the state. It is a large 
frame structure with stone basement, built in a substantial and 
workman-like manner. Has six run of stone, and does a large 
buisness. A new feed mill has recently been added. 

For many years this part of the county possessed a fine agricul- 
tural society, but about two years ago the corporation puchased 
the groun s for a public driving park where the owners of 
trotting stociv could exercise their fleet steppers, thus freeing the 
streets of their racing and allowing the ordiances against fast driv- 
ing to be more vigorously enforced. We have endeavored to get 
hold of the records of the agricultural sooiety but have been un- 
able to do so. 

The first school was taught in a little shanty in the eastern part 
of the town of Nashua in 1856 by Miss Maggie Nichols, an adopted 
daughter of Enoch Woodbridge, and out of this small beginning 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 201 

"has grown the present fine schools of the town, of which see else- 
where- 

A steam saw mill was built by Charles Greeley, on the outskirts 
■of the town, in the year 1858, which was afterward purchased by a 
Mr. Fisk, who removed it to some place in the state of Minne- 
sota. 

A hotel the first in the town of Nashua was erected by Montgom- 
ery in the year 1857, J. S. Hall being the contracting carpenter. 
It was considered a wonderful affair in its time and if we consider 
its surroundings perhaps it was. Like many another hotel, it has 
had varying fortunes and having changed hands a number of times 
is now conducted by J. D. Noyelles who makes a model land- 
lord. 

The Patterson House is of more recent date, having been altered 
from a dwelling and largely added to in 1873. The picturesque 
site of the hotel, standing back from the street and embowered in 
trees, makes it peculiarly striking, which added to the really good 
accommodations afforded and the presence of "mine jolly host," J. 
W. Patterson, invites the weary traveler to stop and rest. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

The Congregational church at Nashua was organized July 7th, 
1866, its charter members being: 

P. F. May and wife, W. R. Cheney and wife, H. Fountain and 
Mrs. Hannah Fountain, Mrs. Edw. Hall, Mrs. Enoch Hall, Mrs. 
Alic. Stocks, Mrs. Selah Billings, Henry Baker and wife and Ira 
Mead. 

Hiram Fountain was the first deacon of the church and Rev. J. 
K. Nutting of the Bradford church the first acting preacher. 

Rev. R. J. Williams began his labors'as pastor in 1868, and was 
succeeded in 1870 by Rev. M. B. Page, a devoted minister of 
Christ, whose walk was a fit example of his teaching, and who 
died on the field. The present church edifice was erected in 1870, 
at a cost of $3,500. 

In 1882 it was repaired, repainted, fenced and otherwise im- 
proved and adorned, and is now a very neat and comfortable place 
of worship. 

The Rev. W. B. Page was followed in the pastorate by the Rev. 
J. G. Spencer and he was succeeded by Rev. L. D. Boynton, who 



202 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUKTY. 

remained with the church, and ministered to their spiritual needs 
for five years. 

In the same year Aaron Dodge was elected deacon, and with the • 
venerable P. F. May, has remained the faithful deacon of the 
church to the present day. 

Rev. L. D. Boynton retired from the care of this flock in 1878,. 
and in February, 1880, the present pastor. Rev. C. A. Marshall 
commenced his labors in the vineyard of the Lord; supplying the 
two pulpits of Bradford and Nashua. To the last named gentle- 
man we are indebted for these facts, which he has kindly furnish- 
ed at the expense of time and trouble. 

METIIODIS'r CHURCH. 

This is one of the finest church edifices in the county, if not in- 
this part of the state, and deserves more than a passing mention. 
It was erected in 1878, at a cost of $12,000 and we are given to un- 
derstand is nearly paid for. Red pressed brick with trimmings of 
cream colored stone is the material used, and the architect has so 
skillfully blended the gothic with the renaissance order of archi- 
tecture that the effect is more than pleasing. And standing on ele- 
vated ground, is the most prominent feature that strikes the eye. 

Inside the same good taste prevails, the painting being in those 
light creamy tints that blend so beautil\illy with the pale brown, 
with which it is diversified. A fine double banked chandelier 
lights up the auditorium, and stained glass windows add to the 
rich effect. 

The main room will comfortably seat some 350 people, and al 
ready the membership numbers 220. Rev. E. S. Thorpe is the 
present pastor, and under his administration the church is pros- 
pering finely. 

ROMAN •CATHOLIC CHURCH 

was organized in 1873, and the edifice was built in the same year, 
and is a neat and substantial frame building. The Rev. Father 
McGrath of Charles City, having charge of the spiritual welfare 
the Hock. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Owing to there being no present rector of this church, we were 
unable to procure any reliable data in regard to it, but simply 
notice that "there is such an organization. 

■ SCHOOL. 

A fine large brick building, surrounded by a fine play ground^ 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 203 

•and shaded by noble trees, and situated in the pleasantest part of 
the town, stands the school house, And when S]:)eaking of it the 
eye of the citizen lights up with concious pride for it is regarded 
by all as the finest one in the county, both by reason of the build- 
ing and the high grade and excellency of the teaching. 

There are three grades, viz: primary, grammer and high school. 
The primary and grammer departments consist each of four 
grades, the high school of three; the whole course is intended to • 
occupy the term of eleven years, and the graduates from its higher 
branches, can readily, without any intermediate study, enter our 
state university, or any other college of like standing. 

The principal, Mr. Henry Felker, is spoken of as one peculiarly 
fitted for the responsible position which he holds, and is assisted 
by six lady teachers, whose standing in the profession is second 
to none. 

The text books used are, Appleton's readers, Robinson's arith- 
metics, Reed and Kellogg's lessons. Harper's geographies, Quack- 
enbos' History of the United States, and the Spencerian system of 
penmanshi]i. The aim of the board and principal has been to de- 
velope as near a perfect mode of instruction as is compatable with 
strictly practical view of life and its duties. 

The board of school directers for the independent school district 
of Nashua, in 1880-1 was: 
R. A. Flemming, President. 
Wm. B. Perrin, Secretary. 
I. H. Bradford, Treasurer. 

. BOARD. 

A. G. Lawrence, Geo. T. Bellamy, 
R. A. Flemming, A. J. Felt, 

W. A. Williams, H. T. Dexter, 

The present officers and directors are: 
H. H. Hopkins, President. 

B. A. Billings, Secretary. 
L. Ijoeser, Treasurer. 

BOARD. 

R. H. Fairbain, H. H. Hopkins, 

R. M. Nevins, A. A. Turner, 

E. R. Richardson. H. T. Dexter. 

Anchor Lodge, No. 89 A. 0. U. W. was organized in Nashua 



204 ' HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Dec, 22d, 1876 with fourteen charter members. The officers chosen 
at that meethio- wore: P. M. W., W. A. Williams; M. W., E. C. 
Weeks; G. F., II. A. Flemming; Overseer, H. H. Conklin; Guide, 
Geo. C. Willard; Udr, J. A. Weeks; Financier, H. A. Hopkins; 
Keceiver, Wm. Lester; J. W., C. W. Strohn; 0. W., J. H. Mitchell. 
The lodge has prospered well ever since its inception and^ report 
with an average membership of twenty eight, in the six years 
of its existence there had occurred but one death to mar the per- 
fect circle of fraternity that bind them together. The membership 
to-day is tliirty-threc and the oliicers, Jos. F. Grawe, P. M. W.; 
W. IS. Skinner, M. W.; T. Aired, Foreman; Jas llershberg, Overseer; 
Geo. C. Millard; Rdr., Thos. S. -Bradford; Financier, H. T. Dex- 
ter, Receiver; 0. S. Wherland, O. and J. W. 

MASONIC. 

The masonic lodge was organized by Dr.S. S. Troy, master un- 
der a dispensation, in June, 1869, with^twenty-two charter mem- 
bers. It now consists of about sixty brothers in good standing. 
Has a line hall, lifted up in a good style, for the celebration of 
the rites of the order. The chapter was organized in 1871 and has 
a healthly growth. 

NASHUA POST. 

This newspaper was established in the fall of 1869, it is believed, 
but in the absence of liles it is not beyond a mere })eradventure. 
Andy J. Felt was the original proprietor and sole editor until 1873, 
when tlie ollice was purchased by Jos. F. Grawe, who still continues 
in its editoral chair. The Post is a six-column quarto with patent 
insides, and is published weekly. The mechanical work is well 
and neatly done, and editorial department well conducted. In 
political complexion it is strongely republican, and is the only 
paper i)ublished in the town. The ofiice is well supplied Avith 
material, and kee])s four compositors busily at work. The ])aper re- 
ceives liberal patronage both in its advertising department and in 
the job work department. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 205 



CHAPTER IX. 



New Hampton Township. 



A write-up of New Hampton, town and township, should be a 
fair reflex of the difficulties attending western settlements; not 
that there were unusual obstacles in the way, or that there were 
privations, or dangers, beyond those commonly met with under 
similar circumstances; in fact it is but a record of the upbuilding of 
a prosperous community, upon the bleak bosom of the boundless 
prairie, witli little or no adventitious aid and with no attempts at 
what the distinctively American language terms boondng. 

The records of New Hampton township date back to April 6th, 
1857, bearing which date the following record appears: 

"Township 95-12 was organized under the name of New Hamp- 
ton township, on the 6th day of April, A. D. 1857, by virtue of a 
warrant issued to David Edwards, by Lorenzo Bailey, County 
Judge of Chickasaw county. Attest H. Gurley, Clerk of Elec- 
tion." 

On the first Monday of April, 1857, an election, was held at the 
house of David Edwan's, the board being organized by S. M. 
Prentice, Esq . of Ilichland township. 



206 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Gideon Gardner, Jolni Patten and Homer Hamlin were the 
judges, and David Edwards and Harrison Gurley clerks of the 
election. The following persons were elected to their respective 
offices: Gideon Gardner and James Melenda, justices of the peace; 
Oscar Carpenter andElias Marsh, constables; De Witt C. Chapman, 
town clerk; Joseph Gardner, road supervisor; J. W. Vanauken, 
Denizen Calkins, N. D. R. Cole, trustees. 

The following officers were elected April 5th, 1857 : J. W. Van- 
auken, Denizen Calkins, Daniel Shook, trustee; Dan Pepper, E. W. 
Parker, constables; H. Gurley, township clerk. 

April 24th, 1858 Gideon Gardner resigned the office of justice of 
the peace, and the trustees appointed .Caleb Arnold to fill va- 
cance. 

ELECTION, OCTOBER, 1858. 

Denizen Calkins, Daniel Shook, N. D. R. Cole, trustees; Caleb 
Arnold, James Melenda justices of the peace ; B. E. Morton, con- 
stable; D. W. C. Chapman, assessor; H. Gurley, township clerk. 

OCTOBER, 1859. 
Philip Vanorsdoll, G. W. Pepper, Edward Bell, trustees; H. 
Gurley, clerk; A. L. Jackson, assessor; James E. Yaunce, justice 
of the peace; M. C. Roby, D. W. C. Chapman, constables. 

NOVEMBER, 1860. 

Gideon Gardner, member board of supervisors; James E. Yaunce, 
George A. Hamilton, justices of the peace; H. Gurley, clerk; A. D. 
Jackson, assessor; Joseph Gardner, D. W. C Chapman, J. K. 
Kronagar, trustees, for short term; Denizen Calkins, N. D. R. Cole, 
Orlando Roberts, trustees for 1861; M. C. Roby, C. T. Craft, 
constables. 

OCTOBER, 1861, 

N. D. R. Cole, David Edwards, J. K. Kronagar, trustees; E. G. 
0. Groat, assessor; A. D. Jackson, Dan Pepper, constables; L. J. 
Young, clerk. 

OCTOBER, 1862 

David Edwards, J. K. Kronagar, W. T. Paul, trustees; G. A. 
Hamilton, Joseph Young, justices of the peace; L. J. Young, clerk; 
G. A. Hamilton, assessor; J. D. Arnold, George Colby, con- 
stables. 

OCTOBER, 1863. 

J. K. Kronagar, member board of sup3rvisors; David Edwards , 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



*207 



W. T. Paul, A. T. Jackson, trustees; B. E. Morton, clerk; L. J. 
Young, assessor; E. T. Runion, Dan Pepper, constables. 

NOVEMBER, 1864 

N. D. R. Cole, W. T. Paul, A. D .Jackson, trustees; G. A. 
Hamilton, Joseph Young, justices of the peace; L. J. Young,clerk; 
A. H. Bartlett, assessor; A. D. .Jackson, John Geer, con- 
stables. 

OCTOBER, 1865. 

Gideon Gardner, member board of supervisors; W. T. Paul, 
Myron Ives, Gilbert Vincent, trustees; W. Johnston, clerk; 
E. W. Parker assessor; L. H. Phinney, John Geer, con- 
stables. 

OCTOBER, 1866. 

P N. D.R. Cole A. D. Jackson, H. H. Gardner,trustees; L. J. Young 
clerk; A. H. Bartlett, assessor; L. H. Phinney, Nelson Olds, 
constables; G. A. Hamilton, H. J. Parker, justices of the 
peace. 

OCTOBER 1867. 
D. A. Jackson, member board supervisors; M. Burgit, A. S. 
Gardner, Joseph Young, trustees; G. A. Hamilton, assessor; 
L. M., Smith, clerk; R. 0. Sheldon, constable. 

NOVEMBER 1868 

J.*R. Kenyon, Joseph Young, I. H. Minkler, trustees; Gideon 
Gardner, J. Colby, justices of the peace; L. J. Young, assessor; 
L. M. Smith, clerk; Gilbert Vincent, George Reynolds, con- 
stables. 

OCTOBER 1869 

Gideon Gardner, member of the board of supervisors; I. H. 
Minkler, Joseph Young, Don A. Jackson, trustees; W. Parker, 
justice of the peace; Z. E. Barrett, assessor; L. M. Smith clerk; 
George Reynolds, R. O. Sheldon, constables. 

OCTOBER 1870 

D. A. Jackson, W. E. Hurd, J. A. Mixer, trustees; J. M. Robin- 
son, clerk; Z. E. Barrett, assessor; William Parker, S. J. Colby, 
justices of the peace; G. H. Reynolds, R. 0. Sheldon, con- 
stables. • 

OCTOBER 1871 

J. A. Mixer, D. A. Jackson, W. E. Hurd, members of board of 
supervisors; D. B. Sneden, justice of the peace; Robert Shortley, 



208 HISTORY OP CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

assessor; E P. Sheffield, clerk; Smith Healey, R. O. Sheldon 
constables. 

NOVEMBER 1872. 

W. E. Hurd, Don A. Jackson, I. H. Minkler, trustees; William 
Parker, S. J. Colby, justices of the peace; Samuel Cotant^ 
assessor; J. M. Robinson, clerk; A. H. Lillebridge; L. M. Smith 
constables. 

OCTOBER 1873. 

I. H. Minkler, Robert Shortley, Hugh Kepler, trustees; 
W. Parker, justice ofthe peace; E. P. Sheffield, assessor; J. M. Rob- 
inson, clerk; 

OCTOBER 1874 

The records for this year are incomplete. D. B. Shelden and 
John Mays were elected justices of the peace; and J. T. Jackson 
constable. 

OCTOBER 1875. 

The records for this year are also incomplete. D. B. Sneden 
and J. K. Kroninger were elected justices of the peace; H. P. 
Cotant, clerk; Walter Cady, constable. 

NOVEMBER 1876 

Hugh Kepler, Don A. Jackson, Cornelius Carr. [trustees; 
John Mays, William Parker, justices of the peace; S. R. ''^Wesp, 
assessor; H. P. Cotant, clerk; Walter Cady,;;W. .W. "Morris, 
constable^. 

OCTOBER 1877. 

D. A. Jackson, Hugh Kepler, A. A. Brown,-__trustees; H. P. 
Cotant, clerk; S. R. Wesp, assessor; J. H. Gurney, justice ofthe 
peace. 

OCTOBER, 1878. 

F. J. Wesp, Samuel Cotant, Fred Morsch, trustees; E. P. 
Sheffield, clerk; D. B. Sneden, William Parker, justices of the 
peace; C. L. Gabrilson, assessor; Lee Miller, Chris Mullen, con- 
stables. 

OCTOBER 1879. 

Hugh Kepler trustee; G. A. Hamilton, justice of the peace. 
C. L. Gabrilson, assessor; H .P. Cotant clerk. 

NOVEMBER 1880 

C. L. Gabrilson, trustee; Cornelius Carr, D. B. Sneden, justices 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 209 

of the peace; John Krerger, assessor; A. G. Bigelow, clerk Lee 
Miller. Chris Mullen constables. 

OCTOBER 1881. 
F. Marsh, Sr., trustee; G. A. Hamilton, justice of the peace; 
H. P. Cotant, clerk; Michael Malona, assessor. 

NOVEMBER 1882. 

F. McCarthy, trustee; D. B. Sneden, C. Carr, justices of the 
peace; Lee Miller, Charles White, constable; A. B. Harris, clerk, 
John Debittinger assessor. 

In the above list of oflicers no mention is made of appointments 
to fill vacancies, which frequently occurred, The names given 
are of those who were regularly elected at the succeeding elec- 
tions. 

The following entry appears of date given therein. 

On petition of J, H. Powers and others, presented to the county 
judge on the 2d day of July, 1860, the following described territory 
was set off from the townshij) of Dayton and attached to the 
township of New Hampton, to-wit: the S. PI 1 of the N. E. i and 
the N. E. i of the S. E, i of section 12, township 95, north of 
range 13 west; as per notice on file in the ofhce of the township 
clerk, to which reference may be had. (Signed) H. Gurley, 
clerk. 

NEW HAMPTON. 

The town of New Hampton, which is the county seat of Chicka- 
saw county, deserves its importance and consequent prosperity 
chiefly from the fact that it is the geographical center of the 
county. The pioneers, who established the place, relied upon this 
fact to make good their investments, and the sequel showed that their 
judgment was nut at fault; for, after divers contests, which will be 
found to be recorded elsewhere,' the seat of county government 
was ultimately and permanently located here, and peace is now 
perpetuating what intermittent warfare won. 

As will appear hereafter, New Hampton was incorporated in 
1873, and dates its beginning from 1855, at tlie connnencement of 
which year there were no building on the present townsite, and no 
townsite in reality. Don A. Jackson, who located within a mile 
and a half of the present town in May, 1855, relates that at that 
time the town had no existence, actual or prospective. The name 
of the place was at hrst Chickasaw center, but was afterward 
changed to New Hampton l)y Osgood Gowan in compliment to 



210 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

his native town in New England. According to Mr. Jackson's 
recollection, since corroborated by other pioneers, the first house 
erected in the town was built bj^ David Edwards, and stood near 
where the creamery is now located. It was a small board dwelling. 
James Jarred built a log house not long afterwards, which stood 
in the center of the street between the Fitch block and the Gurley 
store building. Jarred sold to two men named Jacobs and Ross, 
who put in a small stock of general merchandise; which they 
subsequently sold with the building, to Osgood Gowan At the 
time of this sale Gowan kept the post office — he being the first 
postmaster — at his home in the woods, about one mile northeast 
of town. GoAvan had to go to. Jacksonville, for the mails, and 
sometimes to West Union, on foot. He owned 160 acres where he 
lived, and in fact traded with Jacobs and Ross for the store pro- 
perty, and moved the post office to what is now called New Hamp- 
ton. Gowan .afterwards sold to Harrison Gurley, who, with 
/Gideon Gardner, and Homer Hamlin, had come to New Hampton 
■in 1856. Gurley erected the well known frame store building on 
.the corner of INTain street and Locust avenue, where he kept store 
quite a number of years, during ten of which, at least, he was the 
only merchant in New Hampton. 

It is particularly difficult to reconcile conflicting memories, as 
to occurrences which date back quite a number of years. The 
first public place of entertainment in New Hampton was a log 
house erected by Samuel Shaw, Harve3''S. Plill l)ecoming the owner 
of it at a later date, and coverting it into a rude sort of hostlery. 
The building was also occupied, for a time by Gideon Gardner as a 
■ dwelling. William Johnson subsequently owned it, and moving it 
.back, erected a frame in front, which he used as a saloon, himself 
and family dwelling in the log portion. Johnson sold to Hon. James 
F. Babcock, who, with his father, moved into the log portion, and 
transposed the saloon into a drug store^* which was the pioneer 
drug store of New Hampton. This log building, was liever a part 
of the hotel proper, Avhich was built in the first place on the 
ground east of it, by Daniel Shook, and which underwent various 
names and changes of proprietorship, being remembered liest as 
the Dixon house and the New Hampton hotel. Shook erected 

the central portion of this building and the kitchen. He was suc- 
ceeded by Don. A. Jackson, who sold to W. D. Gardner. Mr. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 2ll 

Gardner added the west main portion of two stories, and after- 
wards sold to John Dixon, who built upon the east side, moved 
the kitchen to. the rear of the Gardner addition, and extended the 
main part to the rear. Dixon sold toH. L. Fitch, and in 1881 the 
building was destroyed by fire. Upon its site Mr. Fitch erected 
in 1882 a fine brick business block of two stories, with three store 
rooms on the ground floor, a total cost of $15,000. 

The Central house now owned and constructed by E. H. Yarger, 
was erected by Daniel Pepper, who sold to C. H. Clough, and he 
in turn to 0. Dana, Yarger assuming the proprietorship in 1882. 

The property which J. F. Babcock purchased of William John- 
son, was located where Mr. Bacock's brick building, occupied by 
L. L. Briggs' drug store, now is. The first brick business build- 
ing in New Hampton was erected by Mr. Babcock In 1871, just 
west of the Johnson property, and is now occupied by W. D. 
Gardner & Go's, drug store. Into this building Mr. Babcock 
moved his stock of drugs, tore down the old log house, and rented 
for office purposes the frame he had just vacated. The frame 
gave place to the present brick structure in 1881. 

Veiy little was done by way of building in 1855. A man named 
Cook and his sou-in-law erected another building, in addition to 
those already mentioned, and there was possibly still another on 
the lot now occupied by Auditor Sheffield, which latter may not 
have been built until 1856. 

In 1867 Judge Arnold erected a dwelling liouse, severiil others, 
also being erected during that year. 

In 1855, the only effort made toward laying out the town was 
»the staking out of the block on* which the Shook building was 
erected. The town was not regularly laid out until 1857, Septem- 
ber 12th of that year being the date when the plat was made of 
record. G. Gardner, Homer Hamlin, David Edwards, H. Gurley 
and E. T. Runion were the original proprietors. Gardner and 
Hamlin owned each an undivided half, of \V. ■} N. VV. *, section 7, 
and the balance was owned- by Gurley, Edwards and Runion. 

The rapid growth of New Hampton dates from the coming of 
the railroad in 1868, businass tor some time thereafter being stim- 
ulated to unwonted activity. Ernest Warner, who came in 1858, 
was New Hampton's first wagon maker; E. T. Runion, the first 



212 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

blacksmith, came in 1857. A man named Morton who came in 
1859, was the first shoemaker. 

The post office was established in 1855 or 6, Osgood Gowan be- 
ing the first postmaster. Since then the following gentlemen have 
occupied the position in the order mentioned; H. Gurley, Daniel 
Shook, Samuel Cotant, Don A. Jackson, C. McCuUow, Samuel 
Cotant, C. McCuUow, J. C. Johnson, C. McCullow, the latter be- 
ing the present incumbent. The office was made a money order 
office October 1st, 1877. 

The election to determine the question of incorporation was held 
at the court house in New Hampton, April 26th, 1873. A. E. 
Bigelow, H, Gurley, W. W. Langdon, Zelotes Bailey and D. B. 
Sneden were appointed commissioners of incorporation, D. B. 
Sneden and W. W. Langdon officiating as clerks of the election. 
One hundred votes were cast, seventy for, and thirty against incor- 
poration. 

The first election for officers of the incorporation was held May 
21st, 1873. The following were elected: James F. Babcock, 
mayor; E. P. Sheffield, recorder; A. E. Bigelow, C. H. Clough, 
W. W. Birdsall. M. C. Ayres, John Mays, councilmen. 

The officers elected for the succeeding years, omitting the coun- 
cilmen, are as follows : 

1874. 
G. Gardner, mayor; D. B Sneden, recorder; B. G. Smith, treas- 
urer; G. H. Reynolds, marshal; S. R. Shear, street commis- 
sioner. 

1875. 
H. M. Mixer, mayor, James Young, recorder; H. J. Wing, mar-* 
shal; D. W. Payne, street commissioner; B. G. Smith, treasurer; 
Samuel Cotant, assessor. 

1876. 
g.;H. M. Mixer, mayor; E. P. Sheffield, recorder; B. G. Smith, 
treasurer; Samuel Cotant, assessor; Walter Cady, marshal; Fred 
Simmick, street commissioner. 

1877. 
S. J. Kenyon, mayor; E. P. Sheffield, recorder; Samuel Cotant 
assessor; Fred Simmick, street commissioner; B. G. Smith, treas- 
urer. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 213 

1878. 
S. J. Kenyon, mayor; E. P. Sheffield, recorder; B. G. Smith, 
treasurer; Samuel Cotant, assessor; F. Simmick, street commis- 
sioner; Tim D organ, marshal. 

1879. 
A. E. Bigelow, mayor; E. P. Sheffield, recorder; J. J. Arbuckle, 
street commissioner; B. G. Smith, treasurer; Samuel Cotant, 
assessor. 

1880. 

F. D. Bosworth, mayor; G. A. Hamilton, recorder; B. G. Smith, 
treasurer; Wilbur Sherman, street commissioner; Samuel Cotant, 
assessor. 

1881. 

F. D. Bosworth, mayor; G..A. Hamilton, recorder; B. G.Smith, 
treasurer; Samuel Cotant, assessor; Chas. Carpenter, street commis- 
sioner. During this yearF. D. Bosworth presented his resignation as 
mayor, to take effect June 4th, and at a special election held June 
20th, J. H. Gurney was elected to fill vacancy. Gurney resigned 
July 11th, and at a special election held July 25th, Hiram Shaver 
was elected mayor for the unexpired term. 

1882. 

Hiram Shaver, mayor; G. A. Hamilton, recorder; B. G. Smith, 
treasurer; W. B. Porter, assessor; Thos. Hall, street commissioner. 
The office of marshal, which has been of late years appointive, 
is held at date of this writing by H. J. Wing. The members of 
the city council for 1882-3 are H. H.Potter, E. P. Sherman, John 
Foley, H. H. Heming, J. M. Gilliland, Charles Lilge. 

A history of Chickasaw county would be incomplete without 
more than mere mention of the late F. D. Bosworth. In so far as the 
writer has been able to learn, Mr. Bosworth, was a man of excellent 
executive cajjacity, and a gentleman in the truest sense of the 
word. He was a native of Vermont, and was educated at Tiffin, 
Ohio. He came to Chickasaw county in 1856, and first 
taught school at Greenwood, in Bradford township. After- 
wards he went to the old town of Forest City, where he 
worked for Judge Hiram Bailey, at splitting rails. The rails 
where twelve feet long, and the price paid for splitting 
was $1.25 per hundred. He was subsequently appointed deputy 
county clerk, was elected treasurer and recorder, was county 



214 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

school superintendent, internal revenue assessor, mayor of New 
Hampton, and at the time of his death in December, 1881, was 
cashier of the First National bank. He was at one time an un- 
successful candidate for representative to the state legislature, be- 
ing defeated therefore by D. B. Hanan, Esq., main cause of his 
defeat appearing to be republican disaffection, with A. J. Felt, the 
then editor of the Nashua Post, in the van of the opposition, per- 
sonal ambition for the state senator being the actuating motive. 
Mr. Bosworth entered the army as a private, and became second 
lieutenant of company B, seventh Iowa infantry. Much historic 
matter could be found in the annals of this well remembered 
company, but space does not pe'rmit, neither, perhaps, would it be 
best to enter too closely into details; but it is sufficient to say that 
among its members were, "Andy" Fel.t, G. J. Tisdale, E. A. Haskell, 
Judge Robert G. Riniger, J. H. Powers, Deacon Gardner, J. 
Rutherford, G. W. S. Dodge, Charles H. Trott, W. W. Birdsall, 
Z. Bailey, D. Campbell, B. E. Morton, and Robert H. Mills. 

These men were all more or less interested in political affairs, 
were "manipulators of the wires," so to speak, with ambitions 
and aspirations of their own, and company B. was known 
as one in which there was even more than the ordi- 
nary amount of intrigue. These things are^ said, not 
in the way of casting reflections upon any one, for all now look 
back upon those times with a smile and the appreciation of hum- 
or, and there is nothing of bitterness and little of discredit in the 
recollection; but it may be I'eadily imagined what kind of a time 
there was, and also will be in an organization composed of such 
managing spirits as those named above. 

Mr. Bosworth was also a lawyer although he did not engage in 
active practice. 

To appreciate fully the important part enacted in the history 
of Chickasaw county by Bosworth, one should study the records^, 
wherein his name almost constantly appears for a series of years, 
in one capacity or another. The writer is conscious that this 
tribute to the dead should be written by a loving hand, by one 
who knew Mr. Bosworth, and therefore thinks tenderly of him. 
For all who knew him speak of him with reverence, and there are 
qualities of head and heart which are in themselves imperishable, 
though he who had them may go out from among us. There is 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 215 

• 

nothing left for the writer to do, save to put on record some hint 
of what he would like to say concerning F. D. Bosworth, some 
vague hint of roses and evergreen, that should be kept in constant 
fragrance upon his tomb, for dear remembrance sake. If a 
stranger can be so impressed with a life-record learned at second 
hand, truly those who know the maker of that record can linger 
lovingly in tender contemplation of it. 

An incident showing the danger which beset the life of the 
pioneer, was the losing of Miss Hannah Runion, daughter of E. T. 
Runion, in the snow, in February, 1867. Miss. Runion who mar- 
ried F. B. Weed was, about eighteen years old at the time. In 
coming home from Jacksonville, Mr. Runion stopped for a time 
at his daughter's place of residence, about one mile and a half from 
that town. She concluded to come on home with him and the two 
left the house together. Mr. Runion had been driving a team 
attached to a sled, but on coming out of the house they discovered 
that the team was missing, and consequently undertook to walk 
to New Hampton. The night was a fearful one; they lost their 
way, wolves followed them; and their experience was indeed a 
thrilling one. Hannah became exhausted; and the father carried 
her quite a distance. It finaly became only too apparent 
that escape was impossible for both of them; they could no longer 
go on together and the only hope for them was for the father to 
bury the daughter in the snow, and himself reach means of assis- 
tance. This was accordingly done; a spot was selected upon a 
knoll around which shiubbery grew, near the creek, a willow 
tree serving as a landmark, by which to know again the locality. 
This was ir the early morning, and to reach New Han.pton 
required Mr. Runions utmost efforts, through out the entire day. 
He stopped at Utley's residence east of the fair grounds. The 
alarm was given but nothing could be done until the following 
day. On the third day a vigorous search was instituted; the citizens 
turned out en masse, but the winds and drifting snow had changed 
the aspect of the landscape as to make it impossible to locate the 
spot were the young woman was buried. For a time the search 
appeared to be a hopeless one, and the impression grew upon the 
searchers that the girl would not be found until after she had 

succumbed to the terrors of her perilous situation, to hunger or all 

the combined causes which rendered her position such a fearful 



216 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

one; she had used every effort to dig away the snow 
which enveloped her, and to make her presence known 
but to little avail, the snow being removed from about 
her sufficintly however to cause one of the searchers, Wilbur Sher- 
man, in crossing the spot to fall through thus terminating the 
exciting hunt. The young lady was immediately taken care of 
and was soon out of danger. It is no wonder that even at this 
distance of time neither Mr. Runion nor Mrs. Reed care to talk 
of their terrible experience in that bitter storm, and it is only 
given here because it is a matter of history which is even yet 
talked of with interest bv the citizens. 

School was tirst taught in New Hampton in the winter of 
1866-7 in the north east room of the David Edwards 
dwelling a house enclosed with siding and plastered with 
prairie mud between the studding. The school was taught by 
Mrs. Isabel H. Gurley, wife of Harrison Gurley. Eight or ten 
pupils attended. The furniture was of the most primitive 
description. Mr. Gurley had purchased property, but had 
not yet moved to the town, and Mrs. Gurley kept house in the 
schoolroom, moving the rude benches in and out after school. 

The term lasted three months in that building and school was 
next held during the summer in a little frame house east of 
town; afterwards in the old log store formerly occupied by H. 
Gurley and subsequently ,a building (now H. L. Fitch's residence) 
was erected,the lower story of which was used for school purposes, 
the upper for county officers. School was taught in this building 
until the erection of a structure on the s^^e occupied by the present 
school house, in 1867. This building was thirty by forty feet in 
dimensions, an addition of about equal size being subsequently 
made, and contained four departments. Dr. I. K. Gardner as 
principal opened the school in this building. In the spring of 
1881 the building was destroyed by fire, the present structure 
being erected during the same year, and completed in 1882, at a 
cost of $13,000. 

At the time of writing, the following gentlemen comprise the 
board of education: Dr. H. M. Mixer, president; Dr. A.Babcock, 
W. W. Birdsall, W. D. Stafford, A. L. Montgomery, J. W. Snyder; 
B. G. Smith, secretary; A. E. Bigelow, treasurer. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 217 

Previous to the burning of the school building in 1881, a prim- 
ary school was also held in Dawes Hall. 

A course of study for the public schools was written by Prof, 
Gardner in 1880, and re-arranged and published by Prof. 
H. A. Simons in 1882, with the following prefatory re- 
marks : 

"In preparing this course of study the principal and school- 
board have been controlled by the conviction that the 
ground- work in education is of supreme importance; that 
it is our duty, so far as it is possible, to fit the pupils 
intrusted to our care for intelligent and useful citizenship; 
and that those who wish to pass from our schools to higher instit- 
utions, should have the foundations thoroughly laid here. They 
have therefore restricted the course to such fundamental work as 
can be well done in the limited time. 

"Pupils taking the entire course and passing a creditable exam- 
ination thereupon will be entitled to a diploma. 

"Those who do not wish to graduate, will be permitted, after 
they reach the high school course, to make their own selection of 
studies, whenever there are classes in the branches selected." 

The following is a list of the text books adopted : Readers, 
Webb's Model readers; Edwards' Student's reader, for the high 
school. Gilbert's spellers. Sherwood & Go's. Analytical copy 
books. Kirk & Belfield's arithmetics. Greenleaf's algebra. Reed 
&. Kellogg's grammars. Parker's composition. Kellogg's rhetoric. 
Appleton's Geographies. Anderson's histories. Hutchinson's 
Physiology. Gray's Botany. 

The enrollment of the schools is about 315, and is constantly 
increasing. The first-class to graduate will be that of '84, and 
now contains eight members. 

The following is the present efficient corps of teachers: Prof. 
H. A. Simons, principal; Miss Alice R. Green, assistant, high 
school; Miss Abbi« S. Powers, senior grammar; Miss Willie Nel- 
ing junior grammar; Miss Carrie Ward, fourth primary; Miss 
Emma E, Fitch, third primary; Miss Eva E. Mixer, second 
primary; Miss Lucy Cameron, first primary. 

THE BUSINESS OF NEW HAMPTON. 

An indication of the volume of business transacted in New 
Hampton will be found in the following accurate statement: 



218 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

, Shipment of grain and produce from New Hampton, via C. M. 
& St. P. Ry., during the year 1882: 

Wheat , ft 310 850 

Barley 725 155 

Oats 2 057 570 

Corn 3 649 848 

Grass seed 870 160 

Flaxseed 1 810 575 

Potatoes 202 818 

Dressed hogs 34 040 

Cheese 58 623 

Eggs .- 131 855 

Butter 265 840 

Hogs, 108 cars 2 160 000 

Horses, 3 cars 60 000 

Cattle, 17 cars , 340 000 

Total shipments 14 004 534 

Total receipts 13 368 136 

Total money on shipments of freight 38 050 88 

Total money on receipts of freight 30 658 98 

Total money received for tickets 7 253 78 

Total $75 963 64 

There has also been a large amount of butter and eggs shipped 
by express, not included in the above figures. 

The past year was marked by quite a number of improvements 
in the way of new buildings, etc. Among the business structures 
erected may be mentioned the following: 

H. H. Kenyon, brick; two stories; cost $5,500. 

H. L. Fitch, brick, for three stores; two stories; cost $15,000. 

Dr. H. M. Mixer and Bennett Bros., brick; two stories; offices 
and opera house above; cost $20,000. 

Addition to Odd Fellows' block: cost $1,100. 

B. Tierney, brick; two stories; cost $4,000. 

The entire list of buildings, additions and improvements during 
the past year, would foot up to many thousand dollars. 

Glenwood creamery, W. D. Kipp & Co., proprietors, was estab- 
lished November 1st. 1881, and is one of the institutions in which 



'•} 



HISTOKY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 219 

New Hampton's citizens justly take pride. The creamery build- 
ings are located on east Main street, and are forty by sixty feet 
in dimensions. The average price paid for cream, by Messrs. 
Kipp & Co., during 1882, was twenty-one cents per pound. Dur- 
ing the year 1882 the firm paid out in all about $25,000. Seven 
wagons are employed in collecting cream and two employees are 
regularly kept at work in the creamery. 

The First National bank of New Hampton, is an outgrowth of 
the Chickasaw county bank and the bank of New Hampton, both 
of which it absorbed at the date of its formation, December 15th 
1881. The Chickasaw county bank was the pioneer institution 
of the kind in New Hampton, and was organized in January, 1870, 
by A. E. Bigelow and J. H. Easton, proprietors. Mr. Bigelow 
is a pioneer citizen of the county, in which he has large 
landed interests, and has held various positions of re- 
sponsibility and trust, was formerly county treasurer, and is 
held in high esteem. Mr. Easton is a well known capitalist, 
whose ])rincipal place of residence is in Decorah, Winnesheik 
county, where, as here and in still other localities, he has exten- 
sive banking interests. Harrison Gurley was president of the 
bank of New Hampton, and F. D. Boswortli was cashier. Mr. 
Bosworth died shortly after the formation of the present bank. The 
First National occupies a handsome brick structure on the corner 
of Main street and Locust avenue, eretted especially for banking 
purposes, and which is one of the best equiped bank buildings 
in northern Iowa. The capital stock of the First National is 
$50,000. It does a general banking business, buys and sells ex- 
change, makes loans, receives deposits, etc. An extensive real 
estate business is also transacted in this connection. The present 
officers of the bank are: A. E. Bigelow, president; Samuel J. 
Kenyon, cashier; A. G. Bigelow, assistant cashier. 

The banking house of Smith & Darrow was established in 1879. 
The proprietors are Messrs. B. G. Smith and W. L. Darrow. Mr. 
Smith has lived in Chickasaw county twenty -seven years, thirteen 
years of the time in New Hampton. Mr. Darrow has resided 
in the county eighteen years, and has been in the loan business 
for the past twelve years. The latter gentleman is a large real 
estate owner, having over 1,000 acres of finely improved land in 
this county. Mr. Smith has been actively engaged in banking 



220 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

ever since it began to have an existence in New Hampton. The 
firm do a general banking, loan and real estate and insurance 
business, and are reckoned among the county's most substantial 
and reliable citizens. 

ATTORNEYS. 

J. H. Powers came in 1857, and is still in practice here. 

C. 0. Case came in 1858; is now a resident of Oswego, New 
York. 

M. C. Ayres came in 1865, and still resides in New Hampton. 

Hiram Shaver, still in practice here, located in New Hampton 
in 1871. 

S. J. Kenyon, now cashier of the First National bank, located 
in practice at New Hampton in 1869. 

H. H. Potter, still in practice, located here in 1870. 

D. B. Hanan came to New Hampton fi'om Fredericksburg. 

D. B. Sneden a regularly admitted attorney, but who holds the 
office of justice of the peace, located here in 1871. 

F. D. Bos worth, who never regularly practiced the profession^ 
died in New Hampton in 1882. A sketch of his life appears in 
preceding pages. 

J. M. Gilliland, for three terms clerk of the courts, is still a resi- 
dent of New Hampton, was admitted to the bar, but is not in the 
practice. 

J. H. Gurney came in 1873, was for a number of years in prac- 
tice here, but now resides in Nebraska. 

A. C. Boylan entered into practice in New Hampton, in 1878, 
and is still an active member of the New Hampton bar. 

George E. Stowe, also in active practice here, came from Chi- 
cago in 1880. 

VV. J. Springer, still in practice here, came in 1879. 

R. E. Ronayne came to New Hampton in 1880, and in 1882 re- 
moved to Aberdeen, Dakota. 

John R. Bayne came to New Hampton in 1879, and removed to 
Oregon in 1882, locating subsequently in Minnesota. 

Samuel Young lived in this township, but never in New Hamp- 
ton. He was admitted to the bar, and was county surveyor at an 
early day. 

0. K. Hoyt came from Illinois in 1871, and moved to Humbolt,. 
Iowa, in 1880. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 221 

The first lawyer in Chiclcasaw county was G. W. Howard, who 
subsequently became state senator, filling the vacancy caused by 
the resignation of Hon. J. H. Powers to enter the military service 
during the war of the rebellion. Howard was afterward appointed 
major of the 27th Iowa infantry, and served through the rebellion. 
He now resides at Waterloo, Iowa. 

The next attorney was F. 1). Hall, who was at one time prose- 
cuting attorney of the county, and who now live in Richland 
township. 

A. G. Case, now president of tlie First National bank of Charles 
City, and of the First National bank of Nashua was the next attor- 
ney who came to Chickasaw county. 

J. H. Powers was the fourth attorney to locate in the county. 
A biographical sketch of Mr. Powers will be found in detail else- 
where. It is sufficient here to say that he is still a resident of New 
Hampton, whose destinies he has had by no means a small share 
in shaping, a remark which is equally true concerning Mr. Power's 
close indent! fi cation with the history of the entire county. 

D. A. Baljcock, of Bradford township, was never regularly ad- 
mitted, although he succeeded at one time in being elected to the 
office of prosecuting attorney, the time of his election being at the 
organization of the county. It is stated that, on account of his 
not having l)een admitted to practice, he was ineligible to l^he 
office, and in t^iis connection the following anecdote is told: 

While returning from the memorable county seat fight, which 
will be long remembered in county annals as the Battle of Bailey's 
Lane, his horse was drowned in crossing a slough, and as a means 
of getting compensation for the loss of the animal, he presented 
a bill against the county for salary, as prosecuting attorney, during 
the time he would have served, in that capacity, and the part of 
the little reminiscence, which the pioneers particularly laugh over 
is, that the claim was actually allowed. 

PHYSICIANS, SURGEONS AND DENTISTS. 

Dr. H. M. Mixer located in New Hampton in 1865, and still 
resides here in the practice of his profession, the firm now being Drs. 
Mixer & Gardnei'. 

Dr. Babcock located here in January, 1867, and continues to 
jjractice his profession in New Hampton. 

In the early part of 1870, Dr. Biederman came to New Hamp- 



222 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

ton, but remained here only about one year, going from here to 
Bremer county, Iowa. 

Dr. E. H. Ohiisted came to Chickasaw county in 1857, locating 
first at Fredericksburg, where he remained until 1872, when he 
changed his place of residence to New Hampton, and has been in 
constant practice here ever since. 

Dr. I. K. Gardner located in practice at Lawler in 1870, from 
which place he came to New Hampton in 1878, forming the part- 
nership with Dr. Mixer, mentioned above. 

Dr. Isaac Prince came here in 1878, but remained only five or 
six months. 

Dr. F. Nestman came in 1880, and remained several months. 

Dr. Keith remained here about one year. 

Dr. A. Sterzi located in New Hampton in August, 1880, and ia 
still engaged in practice here. 

Dr. A. E. Clark, dentist located here in 1879; and Dr. J. T. 
Ferguson, also a dentist, located here in 1877. Both gentlemen 
continue to practice their profession in New Hampton. Dr. D. J. 
Pollock opened a dental office here about the year 1869, remained 
about two years, and moved away to a subsequent location 
unknown. Dr. J. P. Campbell, also a resident dentist, died in 

1879. 

Mrs. Dr. Sterzi is also a regularly educated medical practitioner, 
and is in active practice of the profession. 

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEW HAMPTON. 

On the 8th day of February, 1858, a meeting was held in the 
school house — being the log house formerly occupied by H. 
Gurley, as a dwelling, store and post oflice, at which time it was 
resolved, "To take the preliminary steps to organize a Christian 
church that shall embrace all evangelical christians" under said 
resolution a committee of seven was appointed consisting of 
Gideon Gardner, David Edwards, D. Calksin, Caleb Arnold, Walter 
E. Beach, Dr. J. F. Willson and J. H. Powers, to report a basis, 
articles of faith and covenant. W. E. Beach lived in Jackson- 
ville and Dr. Willson in Richland, and neither of them ever met 
with the committee. 

Of the remainder of the committee G. Gardner was a Congrega- 
tionalist, David Edwards a United brethren. Denizen Calkins, a 
free will Baptist, Caleb Arnold a close communion Baptist, and 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 223 

J. H. Powers had never been a member of any church, although 
reared as a Presbyterian. 

On the 13th of the same month the committee reported a basis, 
articles of faith and covenant and the name given the church was, 
"The Pilgrim Church of New Hampton." 

On May 25d, 1865, the articles of incorporation were prepared 
and the society received a corporate existence under the name of 
"First Congregational Ecclisiastical Church Society of New Hamp- 
ton," and the church became known as the First Congregational 
church of New Hampton. 

On Sunday morning the 14th of February, 1858, the citizens 
met in the log school house for the purpose of organizing the 
church. The Rev. J. C. Strong, who was then the pastor of the 
Bradford Congregational church, was present to aid in the services, 
and the church was organized, with Gideon Gardner, Naomi 
Gardner, Harrison Gurley Isabella Gurley, Jas. D. Colt, Amelia 
Colt, Jason Morton and J. H. Powers as members. 

On the 5th day of February. 1859, the Rev. J. C. Strong again 
preached for the church and C. 0. Case, May Case, Christiana 
Morton, Hannah Morton, John L. Vanauken, Emma Vanauken, 
G. A. Hamilton and M. H. Hamilton made application to become 
members of the church and were admitted. The regular pastor 
was called in the person of the Rev. Thos. N. Skinner, who com- 
menced his labors on July 5th 1862, and continued to act as 
pastor until the summer of 1864, preaching every alternate Sunday 
in New Hampton and Fayette. 

During the year 1863, the present church building was erected 
at a cost of $1,670; $500 was donated by Jay Cooke, and $200 by 
the Boston Congregational Union. The record shows the follow- 
ing report of building committee, which was a,|iopted: "Size of 
house, 28x36; windows, 12 lights, 9x16 glass; height of room 14 
in the clear; three windows on a side. 

To the Rev. Thos. N. Skinner, much of the success in building 

was due, he working with his own hands whenever opportunity 
offered. The church was not finished for occupancy until 1865, 
and was not seated until 1866. 

Rev. Harvey Adams was the successor of T. N. Skinner and 

entered upon his pastorate December 1st, 1866, and closed his 
services as pastor of the church, December 25th, 1870. 

Rev. Thomas Boyne was the successor of the Rev. Harvey 



• * 

224 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Adams, and entered upon his pastorate, February 19th, 1871, and 
continued and terminated January 28, 1876. 

Rev. J. M. Riddlington was a Methodist minister, who had been 
stationed at New Hampton the preceeding year, and was at his 
request placed upon the retired Hst on account of poor health. 

He was hired to fill the Congregational pulpit for ^six months, 
preaching the first part of the time every Sabbath, and after his 
removal to Cresco every alternate Sabbath. 

At the February meeting February 3, 1877. Rev. C. A. Marshall; 
he having preached for the church three months on trial — was 
chosen jjastor of the church and closed his services as acting pas- 
tor January 20th, 1880. 

The Rev. E. C. Moulton who is now pastor commenced his ser- 
viceg, February, 1882. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOCIETY 

is one of the leading organizations of New Hampton, and occupies a 
handsome structure, 34 by 66 feet in dimensions,which was erected 
in the winter of 1872-3. Rev. Mr. Wilcox the first regular pastor 
preached in the old court house. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. 
Hazleton, who remained two years, and during whose adminis- 
tration the society purchased Dawes ilall, fitting up the upper 
story of the building as a parsonage. Rev. J. W. Bissell was the 
next pastor, and remained one year, being succeeded by Rev. C. 
H. Taylor. Mr. Taylor was the pastor two years, and it was during 
his stay that the present edifice was erected. Rev. Nathaniel 
Pye succeeded Mr. Taylor remaining two years, and was followed 
by Rev. John Baldwin, who also remained two years, being succeed- 
ed in turn by Rev. S. Sherin. Rev. Plager came in 1880, and was 
succeeded in 1882 b}^ the present pastor. Rev. J. W. Jones. The 
present trustees of Mie society are Dr. A. Babcock, W. D. Stafford, 
W. L. Darrow, I. H. Minkler, A. McDonald, E. S. Fitch, J. T. Fer- 
guson. Mrs. A. Babcock is the recording steward the others being 
J. A. Albertson, W. L. Darrow, W. D. Stafford, A. McDonald and 
J. T. Ferguson 

ST. Joseph's cataolic church 
on south Broadwa}^, Avas erected some thirteen years ago. 
A foundation was first laid on Mam street, diagonally op- 
posite the Central House, but the site was subsequently 
changed to the present one. The congregation was organized April 
3rd, 1870 J. W. Mitchell being elected treasurer. A soliciting 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 225 

committie of six was appointed. When the building of the 
edifice was decided upon, there was but $50 in the treasury of the 
congregation. Owing principally to want of funds, and the con- 
sequent necessity of borrowing, the costs of the structere exceeded 
what it would otherwise have been, the total cost being about 
$4,000. A handsome brick parsonage was erected in 1879. The 
congregation which at the beginning was very small,there being at 
that time not more than three Catholic familes in New Hamp- 
ton, now represents some two hundred families living in the town 
and surrounding country. It is gratifying to note that St. Joseph's 
is now entirely fi-ee from debt. At the time of organization the 
wants of the congregation were attended to by Rev. Fr. Harrison. 
Rev. J. P. Probst was the first ofhiciating priest and was succeeded 
by Rev. Patrick Burke; whose successor was Rev. John L. Gosker. 
Rev. Fr. Leahey the present pastor succeeded Rev. Fr. Gosker, 
and through his indefatigable efforts, both the speritual and tempo- 
ral affairs of the congregation continued to improve. There is now 
little for the committee to do as the congregation is firmly estab- 
lished in the community. 

The Catholic cemetery is located on the southwest quarter of 
section six about one half mile from New Hampton. The ceme- 
tery has been established now about ten years, is advantageously 
situated, well laid out and fenced. Improvements in other direc- 
tions are in immediate contemplation and will no doubt be effec- 
ted during the current year. 

GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. PAUL CONGREGATION OF NEW 

HAMPTON. 

This society was organized March 15th, 1871, by Rev. John*' 
Klindworth, of Galena Illinois and Ed. Wachtel, of New Hamp- 
ton. The first members were Fred Deppe, H. Deppe, Chr. Rabe, 
Fr.Kempendorf, Aug. Kempendorf, I. Reith, George Danner, Fr. 
Piehn, Fr. Siminck, Herm Christopher, Aug. Tiepan, Rev. Ed. 
Wachtel was the first regular pastor t,nd still has pastoral charge. 
The church membership comprises twenty -two families. Services 
were at first held in the court house hall, then in the English 
Congregational church, and afterward in Dawes' Hall. The 
present church edifice was erected in August, 1880. is 52 by 28 
feet in dimensions, and cost $1,900. The present church officers 
are: Fred Deppe, treasurer; George Danner, H. Deppe Albert 



226 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Drawelow, trustees, Aug. Arndt deacon; Th. Jaehrling president; 
Albert Drawelow secretary. 

THE GERMAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEW HAMPTON 

was organized .Tune 20th, 1874, by Rev. Henry Hess of Fort 
Atkinson, who was the first (and still continues to be the) pastor. 
There are fifty-three members of the society. Services Avere 
first held in the old Congregational church. The present edifice 
was erected in 1879, is 26 by 38 feet in dimensions and costs 
$1,500. The following are the present officers of the society: 
Trustees B. Blatte, V. Boos, H. Rehorst, H. Robrock, C. K. 
Staples. H. Christoph and V. Boos are the deacons; F. Kempen- 
dorf is the secretary ; H. Rehorst, treasurer; Joshua Sutter, Sun- 
day school Superintendent. 

HOPE EPISCOPAL MISSION, 

of New Hampton, was organized July 30th, 1877, Rev. D. W. 
Tolford conducting the first service and continuing to oflficiate for 
some time thereafter. As yet the mission has erected no church 
edifice and services have been for two years or more discontinued. 
The organization is, however, kept intact by the wardens, S.J. Ken- 
yon and Samuel Young and no doubt the near future will witness 
a revival of interest, with consequent growth of membership and all 
that it implies. 

NEW HAMPTON LODGE NO. 84, A. O. U. W., 

was instituted September 2d, 1876, with the following fifteen 
charter members: J. F. Babcock, Lee Chapman, Charles A. Harris, 
Amos Babcock, Jr., T. H. Schulte, E. P. Sherman, William D. 
Collins, John Kress, Thomas Iverson, John McLaren, James A. 
Albertson, A. E. Bigelow, W. W. Birdsall, L. W. Smith, OKver K. 
Hovt. The first officers were as follows: Amos Babcock, Jr., P. 
M. W-; T. H. Schulte, G. F.; \V. W. Birdsall, Recorder; A. E. 
Bigelow, Receiver;' E. P. Sherman, I. W.; 0. K. Hoyt, M. W.; 
John McLaren, Overseer; L. N. Smith, Financier; C. A. Harris, 
Guide; Thomas Iverson, O. W. The present officers are: A. E. 
Bigelow, P. M. W. and M. ^\*.; J. A. Albertson, Foreman; John 
McLaren, Overseer; E. N. Ohnstead, Recorder; E. P. Sheffield, Fi- 
nancier; W. L. Darrow, Receiver; C. A. Harris, Guide; G. R. Mc- 
Mullen, I. W.; E. P. Sherman, 0. W. Thus far there has been 
but one death in the lodge membershij), that of Di. J. P. Camp- 
bell, which occurred in the autumn of 1879. Dr. Campbell was 
by profession a dentist, and was for a number of years receiver of 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 227 

the lodge. Meetings are held semi-monthly, in W. J. Springer's 
office, on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings in each montih. 
There are about thirty-six members, and the lodge is prospering 
finely. 

ARCANA LODGE, NO. 274, A. F. & A. M. 

The charter was granted June 8th, 1870, the lodge having been 
organized under dispensation August 13, 1869, with the following 
officers: F. D. Bosworth, W. M.; Jaines F. Babcock, S. W.; D. A. 
Jackson, J'. W.; Z. Bailey, Secretary; A. E. Bigelow, treasurer; A. 
Babcock, S. D.; Z. Barrett, J. D.; L. B. Davidson, Tyler. F. D. 
Bosworth was W. M. from August 13, 1869, to June 1st, 1871, be- 
ing succeeded as follows: C. A. Harris to June, 1874; A. Babcock, 
to June 1877; C. A. Harris, to June, 1878; A.^ Babcock, to June, 
1880; A. "B. Harris, to June, 1882. The present W. M. is A. Bab- 
cock. There were thirteen charter members; the present mem- 
bership (October, 1882,) is sixty-seven. F. D. Bosworth died Dec. 
19th, 1881. The lodge has also lost two other members by death, 
Z. Bailey and J. P. Campbell. Meetings are held in Masonic hall 
in the Sieh block, on the first Tuesday evening on or after the full 
moon. The lodge is in a prosperous condition. 

THE V.t A. S. FRATERNITY, NO. 101, 

of New Hampton, was instituted in July, 1882, with the following 
officers: I. K. Gardner, Rector; H. H. Potter, Vice-Rector; George 
E. Stowe, Scribe; W. L. Darrow, Questor; John A. Ryon, Usher; 
J. T. Ferguson, Speculator. The membership is about 2:5, * and 
meetings are held in H. H. Potter's office, on the first Tuesday 
evening in each month. 

THE CHICKASAW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

was organized in 1859, with W. E. Beach president, H. Gurley 
secretary, C. 0. Case treasurer. The executive committee was 
, composed of one member from each organized township, as fol- 
lows; J. A. Sawin, Deerfield; S. \V. By ers, Washington; H. Cook^ 
Obispo; Thomas Staples, Stapletun; Fred Padden, Fredericks- 
burg; L. J. Young, Dayton; Hiram Bailey, Richland; William 
Tucker, Chickasaw; John Bird, Bradford; J. H. Powers, New 
Hampton. Subsequently J. H. Powers was elected president, 
which office he still holds. The object of the society is to collect 
and preserve historical facts with reference to Chickasaw county. 



228 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

W. C. T. U. 

This society was organized August 26th, 1876, with about twenty- 
members. The first officers were: Mrs. W. D. Gardner, president; 
Mrs. Lizzie Baldwin,Mrs. Eliza Marshall, Mrs. Mandana A. Silsbee, 
vice-presidents; Miss E. C. Stebbins, secretary; Mrs. H. C. Mapes, 
treasurer. Mrs. Hannah Cotant is the present president; Miss 
Stebbins, recording and corresponding secretary; Miss Abbie Pow- 
ers, financial secretary; Mrs. I. H. Guiie^y, treasurer. This organ- 
ization has done effective work, in the temperance cause, and holds 
itself in readiness at all times to respond to the call of the presi- 
dent to re-engage in the good work. • 

I. o. G. T. 
The Independent order of Good Templars has led a . varigated 
existence in New Hampton, the first lodge having been organized 
in 1860, This lodge having demised, another was organized in 
1867, which in |,urn yielded up the ghost, and on its ruins still an- 
other lodge was organized in 1876. At present there is no lodge 
of this order in New Hampton. 

THE AMENDMENT CLUB OP NEW HAMPTON 

was organized in 1881, with about sixty members, and continues 
with about the same membership. Its primary object was to aid 
in securing the adoption of the constitutional prohibitory amend- 
ment. Its officers were: 

Professor H. A. Simons, president; Mrs. C. E. Hagar, vice- 
president; E. P. Sheffield, secretary; 0. B. Sherman, treas- 
urer. This organization prosecuted a vigorous campaign, and did 
effective work, the county being carried for the amendment by a 
decided majority, as will be found to be recorded elsewhere. 

THE C@UNTY POOR FARM. 

At the election held in October, 1871, a tax of two mills on the 
dollar was voted to be levied, for the purpose of purchasing and 
stocking a poor tavm. The total vote on the proposition was 
1,438; 1003, for, and 435 against. 

During the June term, 1872, the board of supervisors reported 
that after spending three days in inspecting various ftirms, they had 
purchased a poor farm located as follows: on the south half of the 
southeast quarter of section twenty-four, and the north half 
of the northeast (|uarter of section twenty-five, township ninety-five, 



HISTOEY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 229 

west of range thirteen, containing 160 acres, on the town line road, 
two and one-half miles south of New Hampton. One hundred 
acres were "broke," there were a young orchard and a never failing 
stream of water. ' The purchase also included one reaper and 
mower combined, one horse rake, one plow, and one harrow. The 
farm was purchased of Don. A. Jackson, the price paid being $20 
per acre, or $3,200 in all. A resolution was also adopted, providing 
for receiving bicfe for the erection of a suitable building. 

At a special session held October 7th, 1872, a contract was award- 
ed A. W. Utter, New Hampton, for the erection of a county 
poor farm building, for $1,360.80, six hundred dollars of which 
was to be paid down, the balance on the completion of the 
building. 

CEMETARY ASSOCIATION. 

The officers of this association are: H. Gurley, president; 
G. A. Hamilton, secretary; D. A. Jackson treasurer. The associa- 
tion was organized about the year J 861. The cemetary grounds 
are located in the southwestern part of town, are handsomely laid 
out and well fenced. 

COURT HOUSE BUILDING. 

Thfe habitat of the county officers at various times in the early 
history of the county, has been detailed at sufficient length else- 
where. The records of the June meeting, 1865, give the following 
details concerning the first building erected, especially for 
county purposes. At this meeting the following proceedings were 
had in relation to the erection of a county building: 

Resolved, That Palmer of Jacksonville, Haslam of Dayton, and 
Woodbridge of Bradford, be a committee to enter into an agree- 
ment with, and if practicable make a contract with any responsible 
parties, for the erection of a county building, according to the plan 
and specifications now on file in the office of the clerk of the 
board. And if they deem changes or additions necessary, to 
stipulate for the same to be paid out of the county funds, but, 
in no case to exceed $500.00 for such last mentioned purpose. 

Resolved, That said committee be empowered to offer the con- 
tractor an interest of ten per cent, payable out of the county funds 
on sums due for the erection of said building, and payable, out of 
the swamp land fund, until said fund shall be received by 
the county, and paid over to said contractor or his order. 



230 HISTORY OP CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Resolved, That the committee report their doings in the premises 
together with a copy of any contract they may enter into for the 
action of the board. 

J. K. Kroningeb. 

This contract entered into on this 6th day of June, A. D. 1865, 
by and between Chickasaw county, state of Iowa, of the first part 
and J. H. Powers of the second part, witnesseth: that the said party 
of the second part agrees to erect and finish according to 
the specifications now on file in the office of the board 
of supervisors, a county building the work to be done in the 
style of the work done on the Congregational church in New 
Hampton, and the weather work to be of good pine lumber; the 
building to be erected in a good, workmanlike manner, finished 
inside and out and painted with two coats of paint of white lead 
or zinc, said building to be plastered and complete for use, 
the seating used being the seats now owned by the country for 
county purposes. The walls of the building to be double 
plastered by lathing and plastering between the studding; the 
vault to be square as platted and the entrance to the same being 
under the stairs and to have double doors of boiler iron, one open- 
ing inside and one outward, with good iron hinges and iron fastenings 
for the same, and the walls of said vault to be at least sixteen inches 
thick with an opening in the same, and at least the outer wall to 
be of brick or stone. Said building to rest upon a good substantial 
stone foundation in height similar to the one under the Congre- 
gational meeting house in New Hampton; said building 
to be completed on or before the 26th day of November 
A. D. 1865. 

And the party of the first part agrees to pay the said party 
of the second part, for the erection of said building as above 
described the following sums, and on the conditions and terms 
to wit: 

. Eight hundred and forty dollars ($840) paid down in 
cash. 

Five hundred dollars($500) to be paid when the building is 
raised, said payment to be made by an order on the funds in, or to 
come into the possession of the country as "swamp land funds," 
with interest thereon payable out of the country funds at 

ten per cent, per annum payable annually, until the county shall 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 231 

receive money from the United States as said "swamp land 
funds" and until the same is paid the said J. H. Powers, or his 
order; 

Five hundred dollars ($500,) when the building shall be enclosed 
payable on the conditions, and in the manner above stated; and 
eleven hundred and sixty dollars ($1,160,) payable as the foregoing, 
out of the said swamp land fund when the building is completed; 
and G. W. Butterfield, W. E. Beach and W. B. Grant shall be a 
committee to examine, and if found complete according to this 
contract, to accept said building from the hands of the contractor,, 
previous to his receiving his last payment 

And it is further stipulated that the said J. H. Powers enter 
into bonds running to the county, in the sum of thirty-five 
hundred dollars, with surety to be approved by the clerk of the 
board of supervisor, F. D. Bosworth and A. E. Bigelow, before he 
shall be entitled to draw any of said money. In witness 
whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 6th day of June 
A. D. 1865. 

Wm. Palmer, 
Wm. Haslam, 
e. d. woodbridge, 

we being apjDointed a committee to let contract for building county 
building: to approved by the board. 

J. H. POWERS. 
HIRAM BAILEY, 
(chairman Board Supervisors. 



Your committee to whom was referre'd a resolution in refer- 
ence to the erection of county building would respectfully 
report: 

1st. We would respectfully recommend that the building be 
double plastered and painted inside and out. 

2d. We would recommend that the accompanyiiig contract be 
adopted and approved. 

3d. We would recommend that to meet the first payment 
the county hire of the school fund five hundred dollars. 

4th We would recommend that the clerk of the board of 
supervisors be authorized to issue to the contractor warrants for 



232 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the several sums due on said contract as they became due, 

drawing on the several funds as set forth in the contract. 

Wm. Palmer, 
Wm. Haslam, 
e. d, woodbridge. 
The third recommendation being amended so that instead of 

hiring "five hundred dollars school fund," the clerk to issue ten 

county warrants in sums of $50 each. 

The yeas and nays were called on adoption, and resulted as 

follows: yeas 11, all the members present voting in the affirmative 

the contract and report were adopted. 

J. H. Powers filed his bond June 7th 1865, for faithful perform- 
ance of contract for building, which was approved. 

The building erected in pursuance of the above contract was 
made to answer the purpose of a court house until Friday, March 
26th 1880, at 9 o'clock on which night the building, was discovered 
to be on fire. It was completely destroyed by the flames, and in 
consequence of the county being thus left without a court house 
the unsuccessful attempt to remove the county seat to Nashua, 
detailed elsewhere, ensued. Steps looking to the erection of a new 
court house were soon taken, resulting eventually in the erection 
of the present commodious and handsome brick structure with the 
smaller brick building attached. 

At the April meeting of the board of supervisors, 1880 the 
following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, that the chairman of the board of supervisors be 
authorized and instructed to secure plans and probable cost of a 
suitable court house, with the understanding, that the architect 
furnishing the plans that shall be finall}'- adopted by the county, 
shall receive a reasonable compensation for his services as an 
architect and that the chairman shall be restricted to an expense 
not exceeding $50 in making said inquiry and furnishing 
plans. 

In June, 1881, the citizens of New Hampton proposed to the 
board of supervisors to complete a court house, the architects 
estimate of the cost of which was $10,342, on condition that the 
county appropriate $,5000 toward building the same and that the 
board make an informal selection of the plan proposed, there being 
others plans presented to the board. The plans for a court house 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 233 

approved by the board at the June session, were those of Louis 
Brown, an architect of New Hampton. 

At the November term; 1880, the board adopted the following 
resolution: 

Resolved, by the board of supervisors of Chickasaw county, 

Iowa, that; whereas New Hampton having pledged five thousand 
dollars towards the erection of a court house as near the site of the 
old court house in New Hampton as may be, and having given a 
bond for the payment of the full amount, the same is hereby 
accepted, and we order that five thousand dollars, or so much 
thereof as may be necessary, be appropriated for the purpose of 
finishing said court house, and no contract will be let unless the 
contractor will accept the bond of New Hampton at its 
face. 

At the January session, 1881, the plan and bid of Louis Brown, 

for $10,000, was accepted and Mr. Brown appeared and duly entered 
into a contract with the county. The structure was completed during 
the summer, and was ready for occupancy in the early autumn of 

1882. 

CHICKASAW COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

The first agricultural society in Chickasaw county was organized 
at Jacksonville in September, 1857. A constitution was adoi3ted 
and election of officers held at the hotel, then kept by Hazard 
Green. Tne following officers were elected: Hazard Green, presi- 
dent; John Bird, vice-president; J. H. Powers, secretary; Hiram 
Bailey, treasui'er. There was also an executive committee for 
each township, as follows: S. W. Byers, Washington; J. H. 
Dickens, Obispo; Thomas Staples, Stapleton; Fred Padden, Fred- 
ericksburg; Hiram Bailey, Richland; Daniel York, Dayton; A. G. 
Harris, Deerfield; William Tucker, Chickasaw; John Bird, Brad- 
ford. A fair was held at New Hampton in 1858, under the auspices 
ol this organization, J. H. Powers delivering the address. 

The first regular organization of an agricultural society in Chick- 
asaw county, in pursuance of the state law upon the subject, will 
be found to be detailed below, as taken from the records of the 
society : 

The records of the society show, that "at a large and enthusiastic 
meeting of the citizens of Chickasaw county, held at New Hamp- 
ton on the 14th day of Aj^ril, A. D. 1860, the proj^riety of organiz- 
ing an agricultural society was thoroughly discussed and agreed 
upon, and the 28th day of April, following was designated as the 



234 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

time, and New Hampton the place, at which such organization 
should be effected." 

At the time specified, a large number of the county's best 
farmers, mechanics and business men, met and adopted a preamble 
and constitution. The following is the preamble: 

"Whereas, It is deemed expedient that an agricultural society 
should be organized in Chickasaw county, in such manner as to 
become a body corporate under general law of the state of Iowa 
relating to the creation of corporations: Therefore, It is resolved, 
this 28th day of April, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty, 
that Hiram Bailey, Jas. E. Yaunce, R. H. Way, AVilliam Tucker, 
Patrick Galligan, Gideon Gardner, J. A. Rice, T. P. Vokes, M. B. 
Taylor, with their present and future associates and successors, 
are hereby constituted a body corporate, to continue twenty years, 
under the following constitution:" 

Article 1st, recites: "This Association shall be styled the 'Chick- 
asaw county Agricultural Society;' its object shall be the improve- 
ment of agriculture, horticulture, mechanics, arts, rural and 

domestic economy." 

The officers were to consist of a president, vice-president, secre- 
tary, treasurer, and olie director from each township in the county, 
tjiey together, or eight of their number, constituting a quorum for 

the transaction of business 

"Article 3d. The regular annual meeting of this society shall 

be held at the time of the annual fair, which shall be fixed by the 
board of directors, and shall take place during the month of Sep- 
tember or October, in each year; at which time the officers shall 
be chosen, by ballot, and shall serve one year, and until their suc- 
cessors are elected and qualified." 

Other articles follow, prescribing the duties of the officers, 
etc.; "the principal place of business shall be at the county seat, 
and no capital is required, other than the sums contributed 
annually by the members, the amount received from the state, 
and the proceeds of annual exhibitions, which can only be in- 
vested in the grounds and fixtures, necessary to accommodate the 

society, or other legitimate objects thereof. 

Provisions were made for the holding of annual fairs, at such 

times and place as shall be designated by the board of directors. 

Other regulations were prescribed; provision for membership and 

the amount members shall pay were made, as also the conditions 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 235 

for forfeiture of membership. The matters of establishing prem- 
ium lists, agreeing upon the rules governing the fairs, limiting 
competition and awarding committees, were also attended to. 
The board was authorized to enact such by-laws and rules, not 
inconsistent with the constitution, as may be deemed necessary 
for the good of the society, and the final article provided that 
"this constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of the 
majority of the members present, and voting at any regular 
meeting." 

"Thus nine persons have associated themselves as a body cor- 
porate, to continue twenty years, under the laws of the state of 
Iowa, thereby gi'sdng legal existence to the 'Chickasaw county 
Agricultural Societ3^' Fifty other persons attached their names 
to the constitution, thereby becoming menibers and share-holders 
in said society." 

The following officers were then elected: Hiram Bailey, presi- 
dent; J. A. Rice, vice-president; M. B. Taylor, secretary; E. W. 
Davis, treasurer. One director from each of the twelve townships 
was also elected. 

At a meeting of the directors, held on the 4th day of June, 
1860, it was agreed to hold the first annual fair on the 27th and 
28th days of September following, and a premium list was pub- 
lished in the New Hampton Courier and the Cedar Valley News, 
the latter paper being printed at Bradford. This list was pub- 
lished several weeks, and every effort was made to ensure the suc- 
cess of the undertaking. The society having no grounds, the 
directors advertised for sealed proposals for holding the fair, from 
the several localities in the county, which being presented at the 
time specified in the advertisement, the directors accepted, the 
proposals from the citizens of New Hampton, and located the 
grounds at that place for the first exhibition. 

The exhibition, in the various departments, was much better 
than had been expected, especially in the vegetable and fine art 
departments. There were in all 239 entries. The entries for com- 
petition in field crops were accompanied with written statements 
of the mode of culture, etc., (agreeably to the requirements of the 
society), and also samples of grain. Below is the statement of the 
corn crop, and the result. 

" 'Method of raising corn, presented at the first annual fair of 



236 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the Chickasaw county Agricultural Society, by J. P. Bailey:' I 
plowed the ground (grove land, and never plowed before), 
about five inches deep, and planted about the 15th day 
of May, three and one-third by three and two-thirds feet apart; 
four to six grains in hill; cultivated with double-shovel 
plow twice each way, and hoed twice thoroughly. Seed, Ohio 
Yellow Dent. Yield 272 bushels of ears per acre, thoroughly 
packed, and heaped as long as it would lay on. Grain and land 
measured by C. A. Stuart. J. P. Bailey." 

Mr. Hazzard Green, "one of the most scientific farmers of our 
county," delivered an address on the afternoon of the second day; 
"it was highly interesting and instructive." 

The second annual fair was held at New Hampton, 2d, 3d, and 
4th, 1861. The weather was cold and rainy; "consequently the 
fair was not a very good one, and yet it was not a failure." 

It was judged best not to hold a fair in 1862, "for various rea- 
sons, the greatest of which was the call for volunteers for the 
union army, which was being so nobly responded to by the 
'ranks,' of our industrial classes, that no time could be well given 
to the holding of a fair." 

The third annual fair was held at New Hampton, October 6th 
and 7th, 1863. "The occasion drew together a large number of 
our citizens, on the second day, and an interest was manifested 
beyond what the society had expected. We have no grounds and 
no debt." 

The fourth annual fair was held at New Hampton, under many 
disadvantages, September 20th and 21st, 1864. Whole number of 
entries, 278; number of members, eighty; amount of premiums 
awarded, $110; received for sale of tickets at door of exhibition, 
$16.45. 

The fifth annual fair came off as advertised, September 20th 
and 21st, 1875. Many causes contributed to decrease the interest, 
"among which may be mentioned the fact that the society failed 
to pay all the premiums awarded at the previous year's fair, and 
this single instance was a great drawback. Whole number of 
entries, 221; receipts from memberships, $72; receipts at door of 
hall,, $15.50. 

At the close of this fair a meeting of members was held at the 
school house in New Hampton, and after the election, the follow- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 237 

ing resolution was offered by Buel Sherman and unanimously 
adopted: 

"Resolved, That we raise one thousand dollars by subscription, 
for the purpose of purchasing and improving permanent fair 
grounds for the benefit of the Chickasaw county Agricultural 
Society, and that each director of the society be authorized to 
solicit and collect subscriptions for such purpose." 

•'On motion it was resolved that the directors solicit subscrip- 
tions in their respective townships in amounts from five dollars to 
twenty-five dollars. Any individual paying five dollars to be 
entitled to a certificate of membership for six years; ten dollars to 
constitute a membership for thirteen years, and twenty -five dol- 
lars to constitute a life membership." 

At the meeting of the board of directors January, 3d, 1866, a 
committee of three was appointed to confer with the citizens of 
New Hampton, and to ascertain the amount they would pay 
toward grounds for the society, on condition that the grounds be 
fitted up in good condition by the society, for permanent fair 
grounds. This committee, which consisted of Buel Sherman, 
Charles McCullow and Hiram Bailey, was instructed to report the 
result of their conference at the next meeting of the board. 

At the next meeting, held February 6th, 1866, Mr. Sherman 
reported that no conference had been held, and requested that the 
committee be discharged, and that a committee consisting of three 
residents of New Hampton, be appointed in its stead. The request 
was granted, and Gideon Gardner, Charles McCullow and Harri- 
son Gurley were appointed as the new committee, and requested 
to act promptly and report to the secretary at as early a day as 
practicable. « 

July 7th, 1866, Charles P. Ridenour and wife of Ulster county, 
New York, executed a warranty deed of the northeast quarter, 
northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, section 7-95-12 — to the 
Chickasaw county Agricultural Society. 

The sixth annual fair took place Septeniber 19th, 20th and 21st, 
1866. "It was not a great success, yet it was very far from being 
a failure." Receipts for yearly memberships, $63; at door of 
hall, $17. 

January 9th, 1867, Elizabeth and M. M. Utley, of Chickasaw 



238 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

county, executed a warranty deed to a certain tract of land, known 
and described as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner 
of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 8-95- 
12; thence east sixteen rods; thence south forty rods; thence 
west sixteen rods; thence north forty rods to place of beginning; 
containing four acres of land, to the Chickasaw county Agricul- 
tural Society. 

September 11th, 1867, Dr. H. M. Mixer, president of the society, 

published in the New Hampton Courier an address to the farmers 

of Chickasaw county. 

The seventh annual fair occurred September 25th, 26th and 27th, 

1867, and was in all respects a success. 

The following notice the secretary caused to be published in 

the New Hampton Courier and the Nashua Post, January 11th, 

1868: 

"A vote of the board of supervisors at a former session placed 

$400 to the credit of the Chickasaw county Agricultural Society 
conditioned upon the raising, by the society, of a like amount. 
Their success has been commensurate with the zeal with which they 
have prosecuted the work. They have raised, not $400, but $600, 
and the board of supervisors have just returned over to us the 
sum of $400, as per previous resolution. During the coming year 
this money is to be expended in fencing and improving your fair 
grounds. The manner in which it shall be expended concerns 
intimately every member of the society. The board of directors, 
in view of the interests at stake, have decided upon calling a 
special meeting of the society, to be held at New Hampton on 
Friday, January 24th, 1868, at 1 o'clock p. m. It is hoped that 
every number of the society, and all who desire to become such, 
will interest themselves in the matter, and be present. By order 
of the board. L. J. Young, Secretary." 

At the special meeting in pursuance of the above call, a motion 
to fence the fair grounds was carried unanimously. 

In pursuance of a motion by L. H. Weller, a building committee 
was appointed consisting of H. M. Mixer, I. H. Minkler and M. 
Burgit, and the executive committee was instructed to make such 
improvements, on the fair grounds, as the finances of the society 
will warrant, after the completion of the fence. 

The total cost of material, fencing, and putting the grounds in 
condition for the eighth annual fair, was $1,238.65. "Add to this 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 239 

$180 for grounds, and we have a total cost of $1,418.65, the actual 
cost of the grounds as they are now, September 30th, 1858." 

The eighth annual fair was held September 23d, 24th, and 25th, 
1868. About 2,000 people were in attendance. 

At an adjourned meeting February 10th, 1869, measures were 
taken to secure the erection of a hall on the grounds, and the ex- 
ecutive committee was empowered to borrow funds, not exceeding 
$100, for this purpose. The premium list for the fair of 1869 was 
published in pamphlet form, by "Andy Felt, of the Nashua Post," 
without expense to the society. A floral hall, 16x33 feet, was 
erected in time for this fair. 

The ninth annual fair was held October 6th, 7th and 8th, 1869. 
"A very good display of animals and articles in almost every class. 
Buel Sherman took the lead in short-horns or Durhams. E. R. 
Shankland, of Dubuque, exhibited about forty varieties of apples. 
The exhibition of his fruit alone was worth thousand of dollars to 
Chickasaw county, and it is to be hoped that our farmers will 
take more interest in fruit raising hereafter; for this exhibition 
plainly shows what can be done in this line." 

"Considerable interest is manifested among those having 
machinery on exhibition, and large crowds gathered around 
them to witness the trials given the different kinds of machinery." 

At a meeting of the society June 14th, 1870, "by a vote, 
the society opens the doors to the whole world, to compete 
for the premiums offered; and the citizens of the adjoining 
counties are especially invited to participate with us." 

Premiums were offered for the best and fastest trotters; also to the 
best base ball club. 

The tenth annual fair occurred September 7th, 8th, 9th, and 
10th. Three hundred and eighteen entries were made. D. W. 
Adams, of Waukon who exhibited sixty -eight varieties of apples, 
delivered the address, on the subject, "Fruit." The fair was finan- 
cially a success, the total receipts being $289.80. "The best of 
feeling prevailed during the whole fair, and every person went 
home feeling proud, that so good an institution as an agricultural 
society, was fully and firmly established in Chickasaw county." 

At the January meeting, 1871, a former motion was thus modi- 



240 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

fied : "that Chickasaw county open her doors to competition to all 
counties in Iowa, which extend the like courtesy to her." 

September 19th, 20th and 21st, 1871, were the days on which 
the eleventh annual fair was held. Over 400 entries were made. 
The exhibition of stock was good, showing improvements over 
former years. 

The twelfth annual fair, held September 17th, 18th and 19th, 
1872, "was considered a success." There were more than 400 en- 
tries, and the exhibits in all departments was good. 

In June, 1883, the fee for life memberships was reduced to ten 
dollars each. 

The thirteen annual fair was held September 10th, 11th and 
12th, 1873, and was in every way successful. 

By a constitutional amendment, at the January meeting, 1874, 
the time for holding the annual fair was fixed upon the last Wed- 
nesday, Thursday and Friday in September of each year. Other 
amendments were also made. 

Stormy weather interfered greatly with the success of the four- 
teenth annual fair, held September 23d and 24th, 1874, there being 
no fair on the last day. 

The record book of the society contains no account of any of 
the annual fairs since that of 1874, but it is apparent, from the 
minutes of the meetings, that fairs have been held regularly each 
year, with varying success, but in the main satisfactorily, showing 
continued improvement in stock raising and in all departments of 
husbandry. The fair of 1882 was in every respect highly success- 
ful, and in addition to the other attractions, was characterized by 
a grand soldiers' reunion, which took place on the last day. Gov. 
Buren R. Sherman delivered the address to the soldiers, and Rev. 
C. A. Marshall the annual address. At the March meeting of the 
society, 1881, it was announced that the time for which the Chick- 
asaw county Agricultural Society was incorporated, had expired, 
by reason of limitation, whereupon articles of re-incorporation 
were immediately proposed and adopted, providing for a continu- 
ance of the society for a period of ninety -nine years. At the fol- 
lowing December meeting "the society as re-incorporated adopt 
and be governed by the rules and regulations as laid down for the 
government of the former association of this society." 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 241 

The officers of the society from year to year, have been as fol- 
lows: 

1860. 

Hiram Bailey, president; J. A. Rice, vice-president; M. B. 
Taylor, secretary; E. W. Davis, treasurer. One director for each 
township has also been elected each year. 

1861. 

Hiram Bailey, president; A. H. Strong, vice-president; M. B. 
Taylor, secretary; E. W. Davis, treasurer. 

1862. 

Hiram Bailey, president; J. E. Shepard, vice-president; H. 
Gurley, secretary, A. D. Kinne, treasurer. 

1863. 

Same as in former year, with the substitution of E. W. Davis 
instead of Kinne as treasurer. 

1864. 

Buel Sherman, president; C. D. Johnson, vice-president; B. E. 
Morton, secretary; J. H. Powers, treasurer. 

1865. 

R. B. Schoonover, president; George McCaughey, vice-presi- 
dent; L. J. Young, secretary; Charles McCullow, treasurer. 

1866. 
Same as in former year. 

1867. 
Dr. H. M. Mixer, president; E. W. Davis, vice-president; L. J. 
Young, secretary ; Charles McCullow, treasurer. 

1868. 

H. M. Mixer, president; Hiram Bailey, vice-president; secretary 
and treasurer as before. 

1869. 
Same as in 1868. 

1870. 

Buel Sherman, president; J. U. Mixer, vice-president; secretary 
and treasurer as before. 

1871. 

J. U. Mixer, president; Buel Sherman, vice-president; secretary 
and treasurer as before. 



242 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

1872. 
George McCaughey, president; J. U. Mixer, vice-president; sec- 
retary and treasurer as before. 

1873. 
0. O, Poppleton, president; George McCaughey vice-president; 
secretary and treasurer as before. 

1874. 
J. F. McCallum, president; Dr. W. S. Pitts, vice-president; sec- 

1875. 
retary and treasurer as before. 

1875. 
F. D. Bosworth, president; Cornelius Carr, vice-president; J. C. 
Johnson, secretary; John McLaren, treasurer. 

1876. 

H. M. Mixer, president; William Tucker, vice-president; J. C. 
Johnson, secretary; W. E. Beach, treasurer. 

1877. 
H. M. Mixer, president; J. F. Babcock, vice-president; J. C- 
Johnson, secretary; W. E. Beach, treasurer. 

1878. 
Same as in 1877. 

1879. 
Same as before. 

. 1880. 

J. F. Babcock, president; John Dayton, vice-president; G. A. 
Hamilton, secretary; H. Guiiey, treasurer. 

1881. 
J. Kenyon, president; H. M. Mixer, vice-president; G. A. Hamil- 
ton, secretarv; H. Gurley, treasurer. 

1882. 
Same as in 1881. ^ 

1883. 

F. Markle, president; M. J. Peck, vice-president; S. J. Kenyon, 
secretary^ J. A. Ryon, treasurer. 

The following is a list of the life members of the society: 
Arnold, Geo. B. Mixer, H. M. 

Burgit, M. Moloney, M. 

Bosworth, F. D. Mixer, J. U. 

Babcock, James F. McLaren, John 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



' 243 



Benedict, J. H. 
Bailey, Hiram 
Bigelow, A. E. 
Bailey, H. H. 
Babcock, A. W. 
Cady, Walter 
Clough, Cornelius 
Churchill, L. M. 
Carr, Cornelius 
Cottrell, J. D. 
Colt, Wm. I. 
Carleton, J. R. 
Dixon, Ct. L. 
Dane, Frank 
Davidson, John 
Dana, 0. 
Dixon, John 
Davison, L. B. 
Dayton, John 
Edington, P. A. 
Edwards, W. R. 
Fitch, H. L. 
Foley, John 
Fitch, E. S. 
Gurley, H. 
Gilliland, J. M. 
Gardner, I. K. 
Gillette, M. N. 
Green, John A. 
Gardner, Gideon 
Gurney, J. H. 
Hurd, W. E. 
Herrick, J. D. 
Hocksi^ier, J. 
Iverson, Thomas 

Jack, David 
Johnson, J. C. 
Jackson, D. A. 
Judge, Myron 



Martin, Seth 
McCaughey, Geo. 
Mitchell, J. W. 
Markle, Fred. 
McMullen, F. A. 
McHugh. John 
Mullen, Chris. 
Minkler, I. H. 
Mabie, Charles 
Morsch, F. 
Mapes, C. R. 
Nicholas, P. 
Olmstead, E. N. 
Pierce, R. P. 
Pepj-er, Dan. 
Powers, J. H. 
Peck, M. J. 
Paulson, J. A. 
Piehn, Fred. 
Poppleton, 0. 0. 
Row, Samuel 
Reich, John 
Stafford, W. D. 
Simmons, J. J. 
Sheldon, R. 0. 
Shaver, Hiram 
Snyder, J. W. 
Siminick, Fred. 
Stebbins, J. B. 
Sewell, Edson 
Schulte, T. H. 
Sherman, Buel 
Silsbee, N. S. 
Smith, L. M. 
Sherman, 0. B. 
Swennumson, S. 
Scheutz, John 
Sewell, Joseph 
Stapher, C. H. 



244 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



Kepler, Hugh 
Kress, John 
Kreiger, John 
Kenyon, J. R. 
Kenyon, S. J. 
Knight, A. 
Linderman, W. H. 
Larson, Andrew 
Lilge, Charles 
Lynch, J. M. 
Mapes, H. W. 
Meyer, John 



Shortley, Robert 
Sheffield, E. P. 
Tucker, Wm. 
Tisdale, G. J. 
Utley, M. M. 
Wight, A. H. 
Warner, C. J. 
Watts, Isaac 
Warriner, C. 
Wheeler, C. A. 
Young, James 




HISTORY OF CHICKASAW' COUNTY, 245 



CHAPTER X. 



Feedericksburg Township; Location; Early Settlement; Or- 
ganization; Village of Fredericksburg; Schools; Churches; 

SoaETiEs; Etc. 



The sketches of Fredericksburg township and the village of 
Fredericksburg, which follow, were written from notes obtained 
from William S. Pitts, M. D., of Fredericksburg, who has gone to 
much labor and trouble to obtain accurate and exhaustive infor- 
mation, for a detailed history of the first thirty years of his town- 
ship, which he contemplates publishing in an appropriate form at 
a not distant day. For his kindness and courtesy in the premises, 
Dr. Pitts, has the sincere thanks of the editor and publisher of 
this work. 

Fredericksburg township is in the southeastern corner of Chick- 
asaw county. Its boundaries are: on the north, Stapleton town- 
ship; south, Bremer county; east, Fayette county; west, Dresden 
township. The township contains thirty -six sections of land and 
one-half of sections 12 and 13, 94-12, set oflT from Dresden town- 
ship. With the exception of two small groves of natural timber, 
it is a township of prairie land. Its physical conformation is an 



246 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

undulating plain, with a general inclination from east to west. 
The soil is excellent, land arable and water courses abundant. 

Prior to its organization as a township, the first election for pre- 
cinct officers — this township being then included in what was 
known as Yankee precinct — was held at the residence of T. P. 
Yokes. Thomas Staples was the first assessor, Osgood Gowan 
road supervisor and C. C. Stone his deputy, for this locality. 
This was in the year 1855. In 1857, 0. H. P. Searle and D. B. 
Hanan were elected justices of the peace, being the first to hold 
this office in this locality. 

At present H. B. Carpenter and George Bishop are the 
justices, Peter Case, clerk, and' R. W. Kidder, assessor of Fred- 
ericksburg township. The township was organized as an indepen- 
dent school district in 1871, and so remains. 

Frederick Padden, of whom more detailed mention is made in the 
sketch of the^ village, was the first permanent settler in the town- 
ship, in honor of whose prsenomen both the township and the 
village were named. Padden settled with his family on the pres- 
ent village site, September 21st, 1854, and was during that year 
the only settler in the, township. 

In 1855 a number of settlers came in, among whom may be 
mentioned the following: Samuel Marsh of Ohio, came in April, 
and located on the southwest quarter of section 9, 94-11. He 
erected a shanty and broke ten acres of land, which he planted to 
corn in May, raising the first field of corn in the township. 
His family came in 1856. In 1859, he went to California, but 
returned in 1861, and is still living on the farm where he first 
located. His wife, Julia, died February 20th, 1883. 

Thomas P. Vokes came in May, 1855, and entered land on the 
northwest quarter of section 6, 94-11, where he still resides. 

June 3d, 1855, William Case and family located on the south- 
west quarter of section 4, 94-41-11. James Potter, of Pennsylvania, 
came in July of this year. He first built a shanty on the village 
site, and afterwards located on the northwest quarter of section 
19, 94-11, where he has ever since continued to reside. In the 
same year Charles Connor, of Illinois located on the southwest 
quarter of section 31, 94-11. In September, John S. Marr, of New 
York, located on the northwest quarter of section 31, 94-11, where 
he still resides. John I. Quackenbush, afterwards justice o^. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 247 

the peace and a well-known pioneer, located in the township in 
this year. Quackenbush died in 1864. John Dayton, of Ohio, 
came in December, 1855, locating on the northwest quarter, of the 
northeast quarter of section 10, 94-11, 

By the spring of 1856, the tide of immigration had set in steadily, 
from that time the population of the townshii3 continued to in- 
crease with gratifying rapidity. 

The question as to who were the first couple married in the 
township, is to some extent in controversy, the bridegroom being 
either Charles Zwick or George Fountain, with the probability 
strongly in favor of Zwick, whose marriage (to whom is not ascer- 
tained) occurred in 1857. 

The precedence of births is also a mooted question, but impar- 
tial investigation indicates that the first child born in the town- 
ship was Rosa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Padden, born in 
the early part of June, 1856; next in order was Emilia, 
daughter of Frederick and Julia Padden, and third was a daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Vokes — ^both of which latter were also 
born in June, 1856. The death of Emilia Padden was the first 
to occur in the township. 

The township contains but one cemetery, which is located 
about two and one-quarter miles east of the village, and is called 
the east cemetery in contra-distinction to the west cemetery just 
over the line in Dresden township. 

The first school house occupied in the township was erected 
in the village, and is mentioned in its proper place. There are 
nine school houses now in th township, well built and adequately 
furnished, at each of which there is a fair attendance, the schools 
of Fredericksburg townshij) comparing very favorably with those 
of any other section of the county. 

The township of Fredericksburg is well settled with a progres- 
sive and intelligent type of immigration, and it would indeed be diffi.-' 
cult to find a more exemplary class of citizens or a better ''neigh- 
borhood" than that comprised within its borders. Further and 
additional particulars are necessarily commingled with the histor- 
ical account of the village of Fredericksburg, which is herewith 
presented. 



248 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

THE VILLAGE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 

The village of Fredericksburg takes its name from that of Fred- 
erick Padden, its first settler and founder, and by whom it was 
laid out in 1856, Padden and Bloxham being the original town 
proprietors. It is located on sections 4 and J 8 in 94-11, and 12 
and 13 in 94-12. 

The first house was built by Frederick Padden on lot 4, block 
18, in October, 1854. 

Lewis Padden built the first store in the autumn of 1855; 
Emory Combs was the first blacksmith; J. V. Carpenter the first 
shoemaker, and George Hillson the first wagonmaker. 

Frederick Padden built the first saw mill in 1856. It was run 
by steam power, was desti'oyed by fire in 1857, was re- 
built in 1858, and again burned in January 1862. This 
mill was located on the bank of Plum creek on block 5. 

The Fredericksburg Cheese company opened a factory on Plum 
creek in May 1875. It was a stock company, and erected a build- 
ing at a cost of $1,600. Oliver Briggs, of Elgin, Illinois, was the 
superintendent, and H. A. Simons, now of New Hampton, was 
secretary and treasurer'. This company made cheese of excellent 
qualit}^ for three successive seasons, when they ceased operations, 
and the Wapsie creamery was opened in the same building in the 
autumn of 1880, b}^ Messrs. Udall and Davis, of Jessup, Iowa, 
who, after a few months, sold to ChristojDher Haskett. Haskett 
continued the business until September, 1882, when he sold to 
Messrs. Kipp and Harris, of New Hampton, by whom the cream- 
ery is now operated, its business being extensive and remunera- 
tive. 

In October, 1882, Loren Padden opened a creamery near his 
residence, which he still continues to operate. 

Jerome Padden opened an extensive brickyard in 1876 on land 
east of the school house. This yard was only worked one year 
during which 200,000 brick of fair quality were made. 

The first school in Fredericksburg was taught during the sum- 
mer of 1857, in a pole shanty erected by Edwin Cain, and which 
stood southeast of where the Baptist church now stands. Miss 
Anna Bishop was the teacher." 

The graded schools of Fredericksburg were opened in 1866. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 249 

The following are the names of the successive principals to the 
present time : 

Nan M. Warren, summer of 1866. 

D. F. Callender, winter of 1866-7. 

C. S. Haywood, winter of 1867-8. 

Nan M. Warren, summer of 1868. 

N. Austin, winter of 1868-9. 

A. P. Fowler, summer of 1868-9. 

W. W. Quivey, winter and spring of 1869-70. 
Hattie Coryell, summer of 1870. 
N. M. Warren, winter of 1870-1. 

Maggie McFarland, summer of 1871, to, and including summer 
of 1872. 

Kate M. Warren, winter of 1872-3. 
H. C. Hudson, summer of 1873. 

C. A. Lyman (taught only part of the term which was finished 
by i\gnes Howe), winter of 1873-4. 

B. B. Potter, summer of 1874. 

Maggie McFarland, winter of 1874-5, to, and including winter of 
1876-7. ■ 
J. C. Smith, summer of 1877. 

H. A. Simons, winter of 1877-8 to and including summer of 
1879. 
Agnes Howe, winter, spring and summer of 1879-80. 

Minnie Sherman, winter of 1880-81. 

Lillie Scales, summer of 1881. 

Alfred Martin, winter of 1881-2. 

Mrs. Lillie Steadman, summer of 1882. 

H. S. Adney, winter of 1882-3. 

The present school building was erected in 1865, by Frederick 
Padden,at a cost of $1,000. Additional improvements made have 
increased the total cost to about SI, 600. There are two rooms, 
one 30x30, the other 30x20 feet in dimensions. 

The first sermon preached in Fredericksburg, was by Rev. 
S. M. Prentiss in Frederick Padden's hotel (the Fountain house), 
in the front room. May 19th, 1855. Mr. Prentiss was a Baptist 
clergyman. 

A preliminary meeting, looking to the organization of the First 



250 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Baptist church of Fredericksburg, was held June 3d, 1860, and all 
present united in a call for recognition from the churches of this 
denomination. Those present at this meeting were: The pastor 
Eev. E. G. 0. Groat, T. S. M. Flowers, Gilbert Page, James 
Lovesee, Jonathan Russell, Mrs. Gilbert Page, Mrs. T. S. M. Flow- 
ers, Mrs. Jonathan Russell, Mrs. Billings and Mrs. Munger. Mr. 
Flowers was made secretary of the society. July 7th, 1860, the 
society held its second meeting, and letters of recognition were 
read from the following churches: Fredericka, Fairbanks, Polk 
and Providence. This meeting was held in the small building 
which had previously been erected by a society of the United 
Brethern persuasion. The building had, in fact, been erected 
about the year 1858, but this organization was not of a sufficiently 
permanent nature to long survive. At this second meeting, then, 
recorded above, the organization of the First Baptist church of 
Fredericksburg was perfected. The following are the names of 
the pastors of the society in the order of this succession: E. G. 0. 
Groat, Shadrach Sherman, G. W, Goodrich, M. E. Arkills, T. C. 
Briggs, William Simons, J. C. Abbott, M. H. Perry, J. N. Johnson, 
James Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell is the present pastor. The first 
deacon of the society was W. G. Eldret. Charles Mabry and C. W. 
Stickney are the present deacons. Mr. Mabry is the Sabbath 
school superintendent, the other officers of the Sabbath school being 
C. W. Stickney, assistant superintendent; W. S. Pitts, chorister: 
J. Mabry, secretary; Mrs. C. Mitchell, treasurer. Charles Mabry 
is also secretary of the church organization. The church edifice 
was erected in the spring of 1870, and was dedicated in July of that 
year. It dimensions are 32x52 feet, the total cost being about $2,800. 
The parsonage was purchased by the society in 1874 at a cost of 
$450, and is located near the church. 

The Methodist Episcopal church society of Fredericksburg is 
also in possession of a commodious edifice, 32x50 feet in dimen- 
sions, which was erected in 1875 at a cost of $2,700. The first 
M. E. clergyman to preach in this section was Rev. C. M. Webster. 
Rev. W. P. Holbrook preached at Fredericksburg about the last 
of June, 1856. August 8th, 1856, he organized a class of the fol- 
lowing ten members: George Hillson, Sarah Hillson, Alphens, 
Adams, Cornelia Adams, Catherine Marvin, INIaria Gibbs, Lovina 
Padden, Hester Yokes, Jesse T. Appleburg. George Hillson was 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 251 

the first-class leader. The pastors in regular order were: Elijah 
Kendall, Charles Hollis, J. L. Kirkpatrick, W. P. Holbrook, James 
Leslie, James Stout, Thomas More, Samuel J. Gossard, Reece 
Wolf, George Edmunds, Zelotes R. Ward, H. H. Hammond, 
Edwards Hoskyn, Philip E. Miller, J. R. Cameron, John Dawson 
B. D. Alden. Mr. Alden is the present pastor. In the early part 
of the conference year, 1864, a board, of trustees was organized, 
viz: Ebenezer Perry, president; George W. Adams, vice-president; 
Buel Sherman, 'secretary; Hiram Benedict, D. Berkstresser, J. P. 
Hartley. G. C. Cleghorn. This board purchased the residence, 
now the parsonage, of W. S. Pitts, paying therefor $400. Buel 
Sherman is the present secretary, Leonard Nourse the present 
treasurer of the society, The church has also a large and flourish- 
ing Sabbath school. 

A Presbyterian mission was organized at Fredericksburg in 
1860, and continued about five years. L. R. Lockwood was the 
pastor. 

Mount Horeb Lodge No. 333, A. F. and A. M., received its 
charter in June, 1875, having previously worked one year under 
dispensation. There were ten charter members. Its first of- 
ficers were, W. S. Pitts, W. M.; Leonard Nourse, S. W.; S. H. 
Holcomb, J. W. The following is a complete list of the oflicers 
at date of present writing: S. H. Holcomb, W. M.; W. S. Pitts, 
S. W.; D. B. Nourse, J. W.; L. W. Pond, secretary; E. Cullens, 
treasurer, R. W. Pond, S. D.; George Bolton, J. D.; S. P. More, 
Tyler. The lodge has thirty members, and is in a prosperous 
condition. Meetings are held Wednesday evenings on or after 
each full moon, in Pitts and Warren's hall over Milo L. Sherman's 
store. 

There have been various temperance organizations in Fredericks- 
burg, all of which have proved to be of a more or less evanescent 
nature, save the Fredericksburg temperance society, which meets 
every fourth Sunday evening in the two churches alternately. 
The exercises are of a popular and beneficial nature, and the 
meetings are largely attended. The officers of the society are: 
W. S. Pitts, president; Milo L. Sherman, vice-president; William 
Brown, secretary; Mrs. B. D. Alden, treasurer. 

J. V. Cari^enter, Post No. 104, G. A. R., of the department of 
Iowa, was organized in November, 1882, and has already taken 



252 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

rank as one of the live posts of the state. At the date of present 
writing (March, 1883,) there have been mustered into full mem- 
bership forty-seven, and eight applications are on file. Fredericks- 
burg township contributed largely to Chickasaw county's quota 
during the war of the rebellion, and the soldier element of the 
township is unusually large. Carpenter Post meets semi-monthly, 
on Saturday evenings, in Armory hall. 

The following is the official roster: Milo L. Sherman, C; 
H. B. Carpenter, S. V. C; J. N. Coleman, J. V. C; W. 
H. Grems, A.; J. Ellison, Q.; S. N. Brace, 0. D.; J. H. Langdon, 
O. G. Rev. James Mitchell, Chaplain; H. A. Pond, S. M.; R. W. 
Kidder, Q. M. S. . 

The ladies aid societies in connection with both churches are 
active and efficient in promoting the objects of their organiza- 
tions. 

A feature of the organizations of the village was the church 
choir which was organized with W. S. Pitts as director in 1864, 
and which held rehearsals regularly every Sabbath afternoon for 
thirteen years. This choir became widely known in this section 
as one of the best church choirs in northern Iowa. The following 
persons comprised its membership : Sopranos — Miss Nan M.Warren, 
Mrs. Helen C. Kendall, Mrs. Elmira Mabry. Altos — Miss Nettie 
M. Warren, Mrs. Emily E. Dayton, Mrs. S. E. Ellis. Bassos— Joseph 
H. Benedict, George H. Benedict, Allison Congdon, Abner War- 
ren. Tenors — William S. Pitts, George Bishop. The first death 
among the membership of this choir, was that of Mrs. Kendall, 
who was first soprano at the time of her demise, November 18th, 
1871. 

Fredericksburg has an efficient cornet band, the successor to an 
equally excellent one, which latter was organized in the winter of 
1865, and was called Pitts' Cornet band. The roster of this 
pioneer band was as follows: 

W. S. Pitts, 1st Eb cornet. 
A. J. Warner 2d Eb cornet. 
Jerome Padden, 1st Bb cornet. 
Joseph H. Benedict, 2d Bb cornet. 
George Benedict, 1st Eb alto. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 253 

Charles Chapman, 2d Eb alto. 

John H. Miller, Bb tenor. 

E. N. Olmsted, Bb baritone. 

M. W. Warren, Bb bass. 

A. P. Fowler, Eb tuba. 

M. L. Sherman, drummer. 

This band was disorganized in 1870, and in the spring of 1878 
the present band was organized under the name of the Freder- 
icksburg cornet band. The following is its rosteri 

W. S. Pitts, 1st Eb cornet. 

Robert Padden, 2d Eb cornet. 

Watson Pond, 1st Bb cornet. 

Frank Warren, 2d Bb cornet. 

George Carpenter, 1st Eb alto. 

Clarence Sherman, 2d Eb alto. 

L. W. Pond, Bb tenor. 

Jerome Padden, Bb baritone. 

M. M. Padden, Eb tuba. 

Lucius Steadman, snare drum. 

M. L. Sherman, bass drum. 

D. B. Hanan, the only attorney who has resided in Fredericks- 
burg, came here in 1857, and about the year 1874 removed to New 
Hampton. 

A Dr. Mack located here in the practice of medicine about the 
year 1858, and remained two years. He was not a regularly ad- 
mitted physician however. Dr. John March, an electric physi- 
cian came in 1860, and left in 1865. 

The first regularly graduated physician to locate at Fredericks- 
burg was Dr. E. H. Olmstead, who came in 1865, and practiced 
his profession here until 1872, when he removed to New Hamp- 
ton, where he is still in practice. 

Dr. W. S. Pitts was the next to locate in the village of Freder- 
icksbuig, where he continues to reside in the practice. He came 
in 1867. 

The first hotel (subsequently known as the Fountain house) 
was erected by F. Padden in 1855, and after occupancy by various 
proprietors, ceased to be used as a hotel about 1870. The 
building is now occupied as a residence by Daniel Pond. 



254 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

The present hotel the Julien House, was built by Padden in 
1857, and is now owned and conducted by L. F. Howe. 

The postoffice of Fredericksburg was established in 1856. Fred- 
erick Padden was the first postmaster, F. W. Barrow, deputy. 
Daniel Pond succeeded Padden, with Elisha Smith as deputy. 
Peter Case, the present postmaster, was apjiointed in 1860, and 
has held the position ever since. The office was made a money 
order office in 1882. 

The village of Fredericksburg is not incorporated. It is very 
prettily located, and with its neat residences and advantageous 
surroundings, presents a very handsome appearance. Its popula- 
tion is not far from 300. 

Among its pioneer merchants were: F. W. Barron, now a lum- 
ber dealer at Spirit Lake, Iowa; Elisha Smith, now in England; 
S. G. Merrian, now a resident of Nebraska, and J. H. Haskett, 
now a resident of Kansas. A. K. Warren, another pioneer busi- 
ness man, died in June, 1863. Frederick Padden died August 8th 
1867. 

At the present time the business of Fredericksburg is repre- 
sented as follows: Milo L. Sherman, general merchandise; C. H. 
Clough, drug store; George W. Bolton, hardware; John Phillips, & 
Eli Gooldsbury, blacksmith; Hillson Brothers, wagon making and 
blacksmithing; Peter Case, groceries; L. W. Pond, harness; H. B. 
Carpenter, boots and shoes; Vail and Warren, axe-helve factory. 

Among the preceding sketches of religious organizations, men- 
tion has not been made of the society of Dunkards, which owns a 
parsonage and forty acres of land three miles east and one 
mile south of the village of Fredericksburg. About twelve fami 
lies are represented by this organization, of which Mark Lawler is 
the pastor. 

A record of fires which have occurred in the village since its 
existence began, is as follows: 

The saw mill owned by Frederick Padden was destroyed by fire 
in 1857, and the second mill erected on the same site was burned 
in January, 1862. 

John H. Miller's saloon building, on the lot now occupied by 
the Baptist parsonage, was burned in the spring of 1870. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



255 



In the spring of 1872, J. V. Carpenter's residence was destroyed 
"by fire. 

The most disastrous fire that has visited the village occurred in 
February, 1877, when Padden Brothers' hardware store, Mrs. 
Howe and Mrs. Stone's millinery establishment, and Amaziah 
Smith's merchant tailoring establishment were destroyed with all 
their contents. 

J. G. Haskett's store building, occupied by L. Padden as a drug 
and hardware store, burned in the spring of 1881. 

In October, 1882, the Bolton building, occupied by Pomeroy 
and Go's, grocery store, was destroyed by fire. 




256 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY, 



CHAPTER XI. 



Stapleton Township; Location; Early Settlement and His- 
tory; Lawler; Rise and Progress; Great Fires; General 
History. 



STAPLETON TOWNSHIP. 

Township 95 north, range 11 west, is the township of Stapleton, 
and contains thirty -six sections, the soil is good, although sandy in 
some places. Crane creek and two smaller ones traverse the town- 
ship, which with a number of small affluents, all fringed with tim- 
ber, make plenty those two items of good farming land, viz: wood 
and water. 

The first settlement was made in 1850, by T. G. Staples, after 
whom the township was named; he settled on section 36, where he 
lived for many years; being the 1st postmaster in the township, at 
the P.O. called also after him. He afterwards went to Lawler, and 
after acting as "mine host" of a hotel, emigrated in December, 1882^ 
to Missouri, where he now resides. Among the pioneers of this 
township, we find the names of Patk. Casey, James Casey, and two 
brothers by the name of Hill, who all came about the year 1855. It 
seems that the tide of emigration set in but slowly, in this part of 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. • 257 

the county, for the next two years, but in 1857 it secured a new 
impetus, and from that date it has steadily grown with a healthy 
growth. We are credibly informed, that in 1855 there were but 
two houses within the bounds of what now constitutes the town- 
ship, and also, that in the same year but 60 votes were cast within 
the four townships of Dresden, Fredricksburg, New Hampton and 
Stapleton. The first store in the township was kept by John Nicholas 
about the year 1857, and was located on what is now the farm of Mr. 
Menzes about one and a half miles east of where the town of Law- 
ler now stands, and was the only stopping place on the road from 
Jacksonville and Waucoma, between those places. 

The first account we find of anything, approaching to an organiza- 
tion, is an order, emenating from the county court, bearing date, 
March, 1855, directing, that the four townships now known as New 
Hampton, Dresden, Fredricksburg, Stapleton, then without names 
and simply designated by their number and range, be united for 
election purposes, and be known as the Yankee Settlement. How- 
ever, at the April term of the county court, in the year 1857, an 
order was issued for the organization of township 95, range 11, as 
an independent township, and to be known as Stapleton. This 
was accordingly done, and the township organized on the basis it 
now occupies. 

LAWLER 

"At a meeting of the residents of the townships of Utica, Staple- 
ton, Jacksonville and Fredericksburg, held in Stapleton, November 
14th, 1868, of which H. B. Wood was chairman and W.D.Lawrence, 
Secy., a resolution was passed appointing E. Wetner a committee, 
to wait upon Mr. John Lawler, and ascertain the conditions, upon 
which the McGregor and Soux City railway would establish a 
depot, on the west side of Crane Creek, viz: west one-half of the 
south west quarter of section 4, township 95 range 11. 

At the same meeting, on motion of B. F. Stinson, of Stapleton, 
a committee on subscription was appointed, consisting of Seth Mar- 
tin, of Utica, S. Swennumson, of Jacksonville and J. G. Haskett, of 
Fredericksburg. 

On motion, H. B. Wood, was also appointed to confer with John 
Lawler, with regard to blank subscriptions. 

The above is the very earliest notice of what is now known as 
Lawler, and was taken from the New Hampton Courier of Nov. 27, 



258 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

1868. The original proprietors of the town plat were, Patrick Lynch 
Mathias Konzen, Geo. Benz, Martin and Patrick Green and Peter 
Pitts, Avho resided in primitive log cabins on the site of the future 
town, and may said to be the pioneer settlers. 

But, on the railroad locating a depot here, in July, 1869, suddenly, 
as if by magic, arose a town,whose proud pre-eminence,as the great- 
est shipping point for years, on this branch of the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee, and St Paul railroad, is still remembered with pride by 
her citizens, and although now suffering from the effect of the many 
conflagrations, that have devastated it, still enjoys considerable 
prosperity. 

Among the first buildings erected was a hotel, which the owner J. 
Nicholas,moved here, from Conover in the year 1869, and having 
built on considerable additions, called it the Nicholas Hotel; he, 
run it successfully until the year 1875, when it passed into the poss- 
ession of Mr. Parker, who also added large additions, but it was de- 
stroyed by fire in the spring of 1876, and never rebuilt. Also the 
building, known as the American hotel, was moved to Lawler from 
Jacksonville, in tlie same year, by C. Bolton, after passing through 
the hands of Messrs, Hobart and King, it was kept from 1880, by 
■ T. G. Staples, who sold out and emigrated to Marysville, Missouri, 
in December, 1882. He was succeeded by W.E. Wisner, who now 
conducts it in a first-class manner, it being the only hotel in the 

place. 

About the same time the first merchants came in and erected the 

/necessary buildings to carry on their business, they were: 

Green & Lovejoy, drugs and groceries. 

Ed Casey, hardware. 

Parkhurst & Barnes, dry goods. 

Blake & Menz,' groceries. 

D. R. Kerby, hardware. 
■ Jno. Lynch, general merchandise. 

• H. B. Lawrence, general merchandise. 

D. G. Goodrich, agricultural implements. 

Jamss McKone, has the honor of being the first wagon maker, 
and Patrick Burns, the pioneer blacksmith. The first shoemaker 
who took upon himself the labor of looking after the "soles" of 
the Lawlerites, was H. Duryee, and A. I. Mason, Geo. Fisk, J. M. 

Cailiff'and Greenleaf, were the first carpenters; all these came 

. in the fall of 1869. 



HISTOIiY OF CHICKASAW COUNTV. 259 

In a small red building, in the northeast part of the town,in the 
summer of 1870, Mrs. Sullivan taught the first school, teaching in 
one small room, and residing in the balance of the house. Mrs. 
Frank Fletcher succeeded her, the following year, thus were in- 
structed the earlier schools, but in 1871, a greater number of pu- 
pils, compelled the erection of larger and more convenient build- 
ings. A frame school house was erected, containing two rooms, 
but was afterwards enlarged to four rooms, and now stands, quite 
an ornament to the town; the value being placed at $4,000. Prof. 
Oscar A. McFarland is the present principal, and Miss Delia Con- 
ley, assistant. The enrollment of scholars has been, until within a 
year, as high as 160, but owing to the establishment of the school, 
presided over by the Sisters of the Presentation, the number has 
fallen off very largely, as quite a majority of the citizens are mem- 
bers of the Roman Catholic faith, who naturally patronize their 
own schools. The number enrolled now is about sixty, 

This is a graded school, and consists of three grades, viz. : pri- 
mary, intermediate and grammar. The text books used are a lit- 
tle different from the ones endorsed by the county superintendent 
of schools, and hence we give the list: Kirk and Belfi eld's arith- 
metic and reader; Apple ton's geography, introductory and test 
speller; Swinton's United States and General history; Brown's 
physiology; Swinton's word analysis, &c. 

In this connection we must remark, that the records, relating to 
the organization of the school district, and all the school boards,, 
prior to 1877, were destroyed, in the great fire of that year, and 
nothing remains from which to gather any data, but, beginning at 
that year, we give the names of the gentlemen who have served on 
that board: \Vm. H. Parker, elected September, 1877, for one 
year; R. J, McHugh, Jno. Cronin, P. O'Reilly, Jno. A. Green, all 
elected Sept, 1877, F. E. Baker and Michael JNfartin, elected March, 
1878, to serve for three years; R. F. Hedrick, elected March, 1878, 
for one year; Geo. Evans, 0. A. Taylor, and C. Springer, elected 
October 17th, 1878, to serve three years; P. O'Reilly and C. 
Springer, elected March, 1879, for one year; A. J. Kuckcr and H., 
S. Blackett, elected Marcli, 1880, for three years; M. Martin 
and S. A. Potter, elected March, 1881, for three years. Tho above 

comprises all the records of the school board, now remaining, for. 

which we are indebted to C. N. Husting, the present secretary. 



260 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Lawler, was first incorporated about the middle of the year, 1871, 
but, here the the same calamity steps in and deprives us of any 
reliable data, as the greater part of the town records were destroy- 
ed, with the school records, in the fire of 1877. But tradition hath 
it, that J. W. Vanauken was the first mayor, Jno. McHugh, re- 
corder, and that D. R. Kerby was a member of the first council, 
the balance we could not get at, with any reasonable degree of ac- 
curacy. However, at a meeting of the council, held September 
17tli, 1871, L. P. Hawley was appointed treasurer, and Jno. Phil- 
lips, marshal. 

The council, present at a meeting held in June, 1872, we find H. 
E. Doolittle, H. B. Lawrence and J. A. Green, and a notice that 
L. P. Hawley resigned the office of treasurer, to take effect Sept. 
17th, 1872. 

Sept. 18th 1872, the new officers sworn in were: 

John McHugh, mayor. 

J. A. Green, councilman. 

W. H. Parker 

H. E. Doolittle, " 

Geo. Hemstock, ' " 

Dr. I. K. Gardner, " 

C. Seeber, recorder de facto. 

This council appointed Thomas W. Thompson, marshal, Septem- 
ber 21st, 1872, and after organizing, John Mc Hugh, resigning the 
position of mayor, J. W. Van Auken, was elected to fill the vacancy, 
and John McHugh, to fill the place of recorder. 

The officers of the city, elected March 3rd, 1873, were C. Seeber, 
mayor; John Mc Hugh, recorder; H. S. Blackett, H.W. Parker, P. 
H. Leonard, H. E. Doolittle and P. P. Barron, members of the 
council; who after being sworn in, appointed, John A. Green, city 
treasurer; C. M. Stone, city marshal; John Phillips, street com- 
missioner; E. Casey, assessor; and E. C. Walker, poundmaster, John 
Fitzsimmons, C. W. Harvey, I. K. Gardner, E. C. Crane and J. S. 
Fletcher members of the council, who appointed John Phillips, 
to fill the positions of marshal and street commissioner. 

An election was held March 2nd,1874, with the following result: C. 
Seeber mayor; John McHugh, recorder; H. S. Blackett, James' 
McKone, P. H. Leonard, W. H. Parker and E. Hurlbut, members 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 261 

of the council, who immediately appointed John A. Green, city 
treasurer and John Phillips, marshal. 

At a meeting of the council, held September 17th, 1874, a resolu- 
tion was passed, for the erection of a city jail, and the contract was 
accordingly let, but to whom the records are silent. 

Mayor Seeber resigned, October 1st, 1874, but the vacancy was 
filled by pro tern. appointments,from time to time, until March8th 
1874, when at the election held then, Wm. Lawrence, was chosen 
mayor; E. Casey, recorder; John A. Green, treasurer. 

There having been some informality in the first incorporation,early 
in 1876, the legislature was applied to, for an act to legalize the 
incorporation, on receipt of which an election took place? 
under the new act of incorporation then adopted. The 
said election took place March 6th, 1876, and William 
Lawrence, chosen mayor; D. R. Kerby, treasurer; H. 
C. Geeting, recorder; C. W. Harvey, E. C. Crane; John 
A. Green and I. K. Gardner, members of the city council, and John 
Phillips was continued in his dual ofiice of marshal and street com- 
missioner. However, after January 25th, 1877, J. Mc Kone's name, 
appears upon the records, as a member of said council, perhaps, as 
substitute to fill some vacancy. 

At the election held March 5th, 1877, there were one hundred 
and fifteen votes cast within the the corporation, of which I. K. 
Gardner, received seventy-four, C. Seeber, fifteen, and J. W. Van 
Auken twenty-six, for the ofiice of mayor; for recorder, H. C. 
Geeting, received sixty -six votes, I. K. Gardner seven, and I. N. 
Barker forty; for marshal, (now made an elective office) P. D. 
Parker had fifty votes against F. M. Phillips sixty -two; for street 
commissioner, F. M. PhillijDS, received fifty-seven votes, R. D. 
Parker, thirty, and C. W. Harvey, nineteen. 

D. R. Kerby, polled eighty-two votes, J. S. Fletcher, twenty-six> 
and James Carter, three, for the ofiice of cit}' treasurer; for assessor, 
J. M, Lynch, received thirty-six votes, P. H. Leonard, sixty-three 
and John Nicholas fourteen. The vote on Councilmen stood, W. 
M. Morton, sixty-tour. James McKone, ninety-two, D. C. Mc- 
Farland,fifty -three, T. Cronin, fifty -nine, H. S. Blackett, fifty-seven, 
P. 0. Reiley, fifty-four, C. Stringer, fifty ,Joseph Binns, eleven, W. 
H. Parker, eleven,John Fitzsimmon, thirty-six,John Reiley, thirty- 
five and J. M. Lynch, one. 



262 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

In according with the above vote,the officers and councirfor 1877 
stood, I. K. Gardner, mayor; H. C. Geeting, recorder; D. R. Kerby, 
treasurer; F. M. Pliillips, marshal and street commissioner P. H. 
Leonard, assessor; with W. M. Morton, James McKone, T. Cronin, 
P. O'Reilly, and H. S. Blackett, as council. 

Mayor, I. K. Gardner, resigning the office May 1st, 1877, J. W. 
Van Auken, was chosen to fill the vacancy and entered upon the 
duties of the office. May 3rd, of the same year. 

At the election held March 12th, 1878, Wm. Lawrence was chosen 
mayor; F.E. Baker, recorder; D. R. Kerby, treasurer: D. C. Mc 
Farland, R. T. Hedrick, R. J. McHugh, Wm. King and James Mc 
Kone, members of the council; C. W. Harvey, street commissioner 
and P. H. Leonard, assessor. 

March 4th, 1879,an election was held, J. W. Van Auken, received 
sixty -four votes for mayor, being a majority over all votes, cast for 
R. T. Hedrick and F. Clarkin, his opponent, and was declared 
elected. 

For recorder, A. J. KucKer, received sixty -nine votes and J. M. 
Lynch, fifty -four. 

D. R. Kerby, was" elected treasurer, by one hundred and twenty 
votes out of one hundred and twenty-one cast. The council elected 
were as follows: C. Springer, Wm. King, Connor Cooney, D. C. 
McFarland, P. O'Reilly and H. S. Blackett. W. M. O'Brien, was 
elected assessor, and 0. A. Taylor, street commissioner. 

April 12th,1878,a special election was held, in Lawler, to determine 
the question, whether fifty per cent of the state tax, for 1878, should 
or should not he appropriated for the roads outside of the corpora- 
tion. The whole number of votes cast was thirty, and all in the 
affirmative. 

March 1st, 1880, 0, A. Taylor, was elected mayor; J. H. Lovejoy, 
was treasurer; C. N. Husting, recorder; J. M. Lynch, assessor; and 
H. J. Ditmars and D. C. McFarland, to serve as councilmen for three 
years, and J. W. Van Auken, for one year. 

P. F. Kirk, was appointed the same time by council, to fill the 
position of street commissioner. 

At the election, held March 7th, 1881, C. Seeber, was chosen may- 
or; D. R. Kerby, treasurer; C. N. Husting, recorder; A. J. Kucker, 
assessor; The street commissioner, elected at the same time, was 
0. A. Taylor; and F. Clarkin and C. Springer, as members of town 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COTNTY. 263 

council. April 16th, 1881, A.J.Kucker had. the duties of the office 
of marshal laid ujDon his shoulders. 

The present officers, of Lawler, were elected March, 1882, and con- 
sist of C. N. Husting, mayor; Andrew S. Frink, recorder; D. R. 
Kerby, treasurer; A. J. Kucker, assessor; J. W. Lewis, marshal. 

The present council consists of J. W. Van Auken, G. Miller, F. 
Clarkin, H. J. Ditmars, C. Springer and A. P. Johnson. 

The Catholic church in the town of Lawler, was the first one 
built in the township, as we are credibly informed. It was built 
in the year 1872 and is a frame structure, 40x80 feet, with the 
usual steeple — common to the church edifices, of this denomination, 
the main building was erected at a cost of $ 5,500, and in addition 
to it there has since been added, a sacristy, 24x30 feet, built at a 
cost of $2,000. 

The bell, which hangs in the tower,that is used to call the 
worshipper to its holy shrine — to ring out the Angelus — to 
toll for the burial of the dead, is one of the finest in 
this section of the country, weighing some 3,200 pounds 
and cost, in the neighborhood of $500. Some one hundred 
and eighty families contribute, directly, to the support of the church 
and a fair, gotten up for the benefit of it, is sure to be well patron, 
ized and realize a handsome amount, as did one held in January, 
1883, when the receipts exceeded $2,500. 

Father Harrison was the first pastor the church had,and infact,it 
was mainly by his efforts the church was built. He was succeed- 
ed by Father P. F. Farrelly,in 1875, who was, himself replaced by 
Father Bryne, the present incumbent. The society also possess in 
addition to the church a parsonage, or residence for the priest, 
a fine frame building, erected at a cost of nearly $5,000,and is large, 
roomy, and convenient, and evidences the watchful care bestowed 
by the congregation upon the comfort of their spiritual guide. 
The house stands close by the church, and on the same grounds; 
a parochial school was erected during the year 1882, and, under 
the charge of the Sisters of Presentation (whose mother house is 
at Dubuque), has prosj)ered. The building cost to erect about 
$1,200, without the furniture, and the attendance is quite large, 
one hundred and fifty scholars being enrolled. 



264 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

This society was organized some time during the winter of 
1871-72, but, in the absence of records the exact date cannot be 
given. In 1872 they erected the building in which they worship, 
a neat frame one. The first pastor was a Mr. Frey, who came to 
the pastorate from Frankville; he was succeeded in about a year 
and a half by Rev. Manwell, who died, while pastor, in the year 
1874; his successor was Rev. A. V. House, who came to Lawler in 
August, 1874, and died, while officiating shepherd of this flock, on 
the 27th day of May, 1875. The Rev. C. A. Marshall succeeded 
him until 1878, when, on that gentleman's removal to New Hamp- 
ton, Rev. Thos. Kent was called to preside over the church, and 
remains, to-day, to minister to the spiritual wants of the congrega- 
tion. The society is very small, numbering properly only about 
fifteen members, but the other Protestant denominations, having 
no church of their own, worship with them. There is a Sunday 
school attached to this church, of a union sentiment, however, of 
which Mr. A. J. Kucker is the superintendent. 

A small number of German Lutherans in the community, how- 
ever, hold occasional meetings in the Congregational church, but 
is, however, very thinly attended, and appears to have no regular 
organization as far as we could get at. 

These are all the religious societies that the town can boast of, 
and with the exception of the Catholic church, does not seem to 
be very largely attended. 

The first physician, who located in town, was Dr. E. Neil, whose 
advent was in the year 1870; he remained, practising his profession, 
until 1873, when he died. 

Bryan J. Castle and Orville Potter were the first lawyers, and the 
date of their settlement was, almost, co-existent with the building 
of the town. The former, after starting the Lawler Gazette, in the 
year 1870, and running it, in connection with his legal business, 
about one year, gave it up in disgust and left the town. The 
latter, Mr. Potter, continued until 1872 the practice of law, when 
he, too, left for pastures new. H. C. Geeting commenced the 
practice of law in Lawler, in 1872, and his brother, John, in 1875, 
but in 1882, they discontiimed the same, the former removing to 
St. Paul, Mr. C. Seeber being the only lawyer left to fill the wants 
of the litigiously inclined. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY, 265 

The postoffice was first established in Lawler in the summer of 
1869, and Mr. John M. Green was the first postmaster, and con- 
tinued to hold that position until 1879, when his known ability 
and integrity caused him to be elected to the office of county 
treasurer, and he removed to New Hampton. He was succeeded 
by J. H. Lovejoy, who held the place for two years, and was 
followed, in 1881, by William H. Parker, the present incumbent, 
who was formerly one of the prominent merchants of the town, 
dealing largely in agricultural imi>lements, and who is one of its 
pioneer citizens, having located at this point in February, 1870. 

In the early days of the town's history there was no bank 

properly so-called, but D. R. Kerby, then in the merchandising 

business, did somewhat of a banking business, which, as the needs 

of business grew, expanded until in October 1, 1875, Kerby and 

McHugh (consisting of D. R. Kerby and Jno. McHugh), opened a 

regular banking business and carried it to a successful issue. In 

1881, Jno. McHugh retired from the firm, and it has been carried 

on ever since by Mr. Kerby, and enjoys the entire confidence of 

the whole community. 

The town of Lawler boasts of a circulating library, which is well 

patronized by the general public. It contains about 400 volumes, 
and is owned by Francis Clarkin, another of the "oldest inhab- 
itants." The number of volumes and the class of literature read 
speak highly for the general intelligence of the town, and evidences 
a thirst for the right kind of knowledge by the rising generation. 
Whilst speaking of the general businesses of the town, we must 
not overlook one of its most prominent ones, viz: The Chickasaw 
County creamery, owned and operated by P. O'Reilly, one of the 
foremost merchants. It was established in 1878, and occupies a 
building 50x24 feet, with an engine and boiler house in addition 
of 36x12 feet, and is fitted up with all the most modern 
machinery for the business carried on. It also has a bored well of 
20 feet depth, from which is drawn an inexhaustable supply of 
pure water. This creamery is said to have been the first one 
erected north of West Union, and is the largest in this county. 
About four or five hands are kept constantly employed inside, and 
from eight to seventeen wagons gather the cream from the sur- 
rounding country; the number varying with the season of the 
year. The books of Mr. Reilly show that during the year, 1882, 
there were handled at the creamery 181,486 inches of cream, and 



266 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the amount paid out for that item and for expenses generally, was 
$41,181.17. We were favored with the sight of the following 
document, which the proprietor was making out: 

Hon. G. B. Loring, Commissioner Agriculture, 

Washington, D. C: 
The average number of cows suj^plying my creamery, 

for nine months 1,050 

Number pounds butter made in nine months 161.894 

Of which the value was $40,807.44 

Value buttermilk, estimated 500.00 

There are fed from the buttermilk, etc., one hundred hogs and 
thirty calves, from the sale of which considerable income is 
derived. 

I. o. o. F. 
Crane Creek Lodge, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
was organized, at Lawler, on the evening of February 5, 1878, with 
fifteen charter members, and has been quite successfully run ever 
since. There are now thirty-four members in good standing, and 
the interest is well kept up. The lodge holds its meetings in 
Oakley's hall. 

A. 0. u. w. 
A lodge of the Ancient Order of Workmen was instituted on 
the 9th day of April, 1878, with eleven charter members, but the 
membership has increased to 21 at the present. This lodge is in 
a most flourishing condition, and is reported to be one of the most 
prompt in paying its assessments, and singular to say, there has 
never been a death in the lodge since its organization. In the 
dispute between the State Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of 
the United States, they have held with the former. 

MILITARY. 

The Lawler Battery was organized in May, 1878, by Lieut. D. G. 
Garvey, but it expired more than a year ago, although the gun 
still remains in town; C. H. Husting being the last commanding 
ofiicer. 

In the town's earlier history there existed a Roman Catholic 
Total Abstinence Society, which, in 1872, was in a healthy condi- 
tion, and of which John McHugh was a prominent member, but 
at present it seems to have been disbanded and the records gone to 
"no-mans-land." 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 267 

FIRES IN LAWLER. 

We are indebted to the New Hampton Tribune, of September 
26, 1877, for the following account of the first great conflagration 
that desolated with relentless fury the town of Lawler. 

"On the morning of the 21st of September, 1877, a fire broke 
out and destroyed the entire business part of Lawler. The fire 
originated in the drug and grocery store of Green and Lynch, 
about 3 o'clock a. m., fi'om which it spread throughout the entire 
block. When it reached the billiard hall of John Doyle it leaped 
across the street and attacked Mrs. M. F. Binns' dry goods and 
millinery store, from which it spread through the block on the 
north side of the street, and from thence to the grain warehouses, 
by the railroad track. By a vigorous and determined effort the 
flames were arrested before they crossed the street, at G. Miller & 
Co.'s, where all who were engaged stood to their post with un- 
flinching zeal, notwithstanding the flames were rolling around 
them and threatening instant destruction. Had it not been for 
their unceasing and faithful efforts, the entire length of Main 
street would have been burned. Below we give the losses and 
insurances : 

Loss. Insurance. 

Green & Lynch, drugs $12,000 $3,000 , 

Kean Bros., Times office 1,000 

D. G. West, law library 800 

E. A. Erwin, jewelry 4,800 

Miss E. Lawrence 1,500 300 

Jno. Doyle, billiard hall 2,500 

J. M. Cailiff, carpenter tools 200 

Fitzsimmons Bros., saloon 1,000 400 

J. Fitzsimmons, groceries 5,000 3,000 

F. Clarkin, books 1,000 200 

M. Martin, groceries 2,500 800 

Pat. Lewis, house 600 

J. A. Real, butcher shop 100 

W. M. O'Brien, confectionery 750 

P. O'Reilly, dry goods, etc 5,000 1,500 

Jno. Nicholas, dry goods 6,000 3,200 

Lovejoy & McFarland, dry goods 6,000 6,000 

rson Ober, household goods 400 



268 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Mrs. M. F. Binns, milinery , etc 4,500 800 

M. W. Martin, household goods 1,500 600 

Genshow & Co., hardware 3,500 800 

H. Ditmars, household goods 400 

Padden Bros,, house 1,000 

A. P. Johnson, bakery 1,000 

Jeff. Woodward, household goods 300 

I. N. Baker & Co., drugs 2,400 

Lawler Library 500 

Kerby & McHugh, bankers 6,000 2,500 

H. Duryea, shoemaker 500 

Bassett, Hunting & Co., grain ware- 
house : 2,500 2,000 

Gilchrist & Co., grain warehouse 1,000 1,000 

S. A. Potter, grain warehouse 800 

Argall & Leonard, grain warehouse 1,000 

Mrs. Clias. Argall, household goods 700 

Robinson & Co., grain warehouse 1,600' 600 

C, M. & St. P. R. R 100 

W. J. Cramer., 200 

King's Hotel 100 

T. H. Kosten 500 

Jno. Reilly 100 

F. E. Baker 500 

Miscellaneous items in sums less than 

$100.. 2,650 

Total $83,500 $26,450 

The conflagration left many without a home for the coming 
winter, but they were provided for as best could be. Jno. Fitz- 
simmons has purchased the building of Jno. Reilly and has 
opened a saloon. 

The town will be rebuilt, or a part of it, this fall, with brick, 
will retain its former business, and add nearly as much more. A 
relief committee has been appointed to distribute the donations 
that have been sent in. The gentlemen are Messrs. Kerby, Blackett, 
Hedrick, McKone, and Martin; John McHugh, treasurer, and H. 
C. Geeting, secretary. At present writing Nashua has sent in 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 269 

forty Backs of flour and some groceries, which came in time of 
need."- 

Again, on February 15, 1879, the demon of fire waved his torch 
over the town, and ruin, as usual, followed in his footsteps. We 
give the account of a correspondent of the New Hampton Tribune, 
of February 19th, who signs himself, "One who was there." 

"About 1 :30, on Sunday morning, February 15th, the fire was 
first discovered climbing the north wall of John McNevin's saloon. 
The alarm was sounded at once, and exertions were made to arrest 
the flames in their incipiency, but without effect, and the fire soon 
enveloped the entire building, and in less than an hour the Ijuild- 
ings of R. D. Parker, John McNevins, King's hotel, Wolf's barber 
shop, and the Exchange bank were in ashes. 

Men and boys worked with a will and desperately to subdue the 
flames, and had action been taken a little earlier in the pulling 
down process the bank might have been saved. The losses are 
about as follows: 

Loss. Insurance, 

R. D. Parker, building and stock $2,500 $1,500 

J. McNevins, building, billiard tables, 

and stock 1,500 500 

Wm. King, hotel 2,500 '1,000 

Wolf, barber shop 250 

Exchange bank building 1,200 

Total $7,950 $3,000 

Th >re was no insurance on the Exchange bank building, as the 
policy had just expired. 

No one will ever know how the fire originated, but it is supposed 
that one of the side-lamps exploded and set the building on fire. 
Yet, it seems doubtful that the lamp was the cause, from the fact 
that they had, at about 12 o'clock at night, scrubbed out the 
saloon, and are certain that the lamps were properly extinguished 
when they left. But they might have been mistaken, and the 
lamp being low it heated and caused the explosion, if there 
was one. 

Too much praise cannot be given to certain bold men, who risked 
their lives, at several critical turns of the fire — especially Charles 
Jones, to whose indomitable pluck we may attribute the saving of 



270 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the buildings east of the bank. None of the parties burned out 
are despondent, and before long new and better buildings will 
occupy the sites now vacant. No one was seriously injured and 
the furniture was nearly all saved except that of Mr. Parker, who 
lost everything, including a large amount of salt pork and beef in 
his cellar. 

The bank saved everything except the big sale, which was not 
much injured, and was doing duty again in about twenty-four 
hours." 

We find, once more, that the fire-fiend visited this doomed town 
of Lawler and wrapped it in his mantle of flames, and again the 
smoke of the sacrifice arose on his altar, and the best part of the 
business portion of the town was laid in ashes, and blackened 
piles of half burned timbers, and rank desolation brooded in the 
midst of what was the most flourishing part of it. On the morning 
of Saturday, November 17, 1881, about one o'clock, fire was dis- 
covered issuing from the rear of the store of H. S. Blackett. The 
alarm aroused the citizens, but facilities for extinguishing the 
flames being wanting, they soon became masters of the situation 
and devoured, with greedy maw, many of the best buildings with 
their contents. We collate the following losses as carefully 
estimated by the citizens: 

Loss. Insurance, 

H. S. Blackett, building and stock $10,500 $4,500 

G. Miller, stock 4,000 1,700 

P. O'Reilly, two buildings, stables, corn 

cribs, etc., with household furniture... 9;000 2,500 

Sebarger & Broky, building 1,500 

0. G. Gershow, building 600 

Jno. McNevin, loss covered by insur- 
ance. 
Orson Ober, partial loss of household 
goods. 

A. Bechtel, building, stock, etc 1,800 800 

A. P. Johnson, boots and shoes, and 

millinery 1,100 800 

Patrick Lewis, two buildings 600 

0. C. Steen, building and loss on goods 700 400 

Jas. McKone, building 500 300 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



271 



Jas. Curran, moving stock 200 200 

M. Martin, building and stock 1 ,800 1 ,400 

Total $32,300 $12,600 

PAPERS. 

During the year 1870 Bryan J. Castle founded a newspaper 
called The Lawler Gazette, which had an existence of about a year, 
when it was sold out and the outfit of the oflice removed from, 
the town. On the 9th of April, 1875, The Chickasaw County 
Times made its first appearance, a five column quarto, owned and 
edited by Frank M. Haislet, now owner of the New Hampton 
Tribune. It met with considerable success, and on the 12th of 
April, the following year, Mr. Haislet was bought out by the Kean 
Bros. (Mathew and Patrick), who carried it on for two years and a 
half, when it passed into the hands of Messrs. Cooney & Konzen? 
who changed its name to The Lawler Times, and they having 
essayed to make it a paying investment without success disposed 
of it; after lying still for some time the material was removed to 
Waucoma. 




^mi 



272 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Township History; Location and Early Settlements of Day- 
ton, Washington, Chickasaw, Richland, Deerfield, Jack- 
son, Utica and Dresden Townships; General Remarks; 
Little Brown Church at Bradford. 



CHICKASAW township, 

consists of that part of the county, known as 95 north, 14 west, and 
contains thirty-six sections of fine fertile land, and is well watered 
by the west branch of the Wapsie River; and by the Little Cedar 
and its affluents. Next to Bradford, this is the best timbered por- 
tion of the county, quite heavy belts of trees lining the streams on 
each side. The principal business of the inhabitants being grazing 
and raising the necessary fodder to feed their stock, a mixed state 
of farming that pays well, to judge from the fine farms and farm 
houses, that so plentifully dot its beautiful prairies. 

In making up the history of this town, we are much indebted to 
William Tucker, now a resident of Washington, D. C, but formerly 
one of the oldest and most influential citizens of this section. 
His letter to us, detailing the events of his early advent in Chick- 
asaw county, gives as much history of the town, as can be procur- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 273 

ed, and hence^we freely quoted from it, although much of it may- 
be a repetition of some things mentioned elsewhere, but it would 
break the thread of his narrative, and spoil a good story well told. 

"In November, 1853," relates Mr. Tucker, "I left West Union, on 
horseback, to go to Bradford, this was early in the month. A 
Mrs. Finch lived at the farthest point west, about twelve miles from 
West Union, between that place and the Cedar river, and kept folks 
going to and from those points which were over forty miles apart. 

I arrived there in the evening and staid all night, intending to 
make an early start in the morning. But when I arose, I found 
the ground covered with snow, which had fallen during the night. 
I was advised not to venture, so I returned to West Union, for two 
days, when I started to try again, and foun I on my arrival at Mrs. 
Finch's that no teams had come from the west, nor gone in that 
direction, since the snow had fallen. I hesitated, somewhat, about 
starting, but as it was clear as well as cold, I made the venture as 
I was on horseback, after getting my bearings. When about half 
way, I met Mr. Merritt, with two yoke of oxen, who had come 
through from Bradford; he told me to follow his back track and I 
would be all right, that he had cut the ice in the streams so I could 
get through; this was good news for me. 

"The monotony of the journey was only broken, occasionally, by 
the sight of droves of deer passing Irom grove to grove, and a few 
elk in the distance. I had some difficulty in crossing the Wapsies 
as it had frozen after Mr. Merritt had crossed, but not enough to 
bear my horse up. Night overtook me, however, before I got to 
Bradford, arid seeing a light, off to my right, that looked near by 
I left the trail and steered for it, but found it much further than I 
anticipated. About 9 o'clock, after some plunging in snow-drifts — 
tired and hungry — I struck the cabin from which the light ema- 
nated. Here I found William and Joel Bartlett, brothers, each 
with a family of children, occujDying the cabin. Joel had, that 
day, buried his wife. They were living on section twenty-six, 
town 95, 14. This was my first night in Chickasaw township. 
After partaking of cornbread, milk, and venison, I slept soundly 
till morning. They told me that there were ten families living in 
T. 95, R. 14, viz: their own; Mr. Watson and Mr. Blunt on section 
twenty-nine; Joseph Lee, andL. D. Hoisington and father on sec- 
tion eleven, the latter being a little deranged, spent most of his time 



274 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

under a large oak tree, by himself. One day he came up missing 
and the whole country turned out to search for him; the hunt 
extended for miles and for several days, but never got any trace of 
him. Some years afterwards, some bones were found, near the 
Wapsie, in Bremer county, which were supposed to have been his. 
The younger Hoisington went to Kansas afterwards. M. Jarrad 
and Samuel Monroe lived on section twenty-two. The former left 
for Minnesota, in a few years, and Monroe went to Nebraska but 
returned, and now lives at Bassett. James Frazee, was on section 
five, living in wagons and building a place for shelter as fast as 
they could; he was afterwards the first county treasurer and re- 
corder. (This is evidently a slip of the memory as John Campbell, 
occupied that position, according to the records. — Ed) Mr. Kountz 
lived in the woods on section thirty. 

"Next morning I went to Bradford, and learned there, that,there 
were about fifteen families in the township, besides a small num- 
ber of young men, and others who had no families with them. 

"Among these was one H. K. Johnson, acting justice of the 
peace at the town of Bradford and the one who administered the 
first oath in the county, (legal, not profane.) (The story is told 
elsewhere, in the history of Bradford township and we will not 
repeat it here. — Ed.) 

"Andy Sample went that winter to get a stock of groceries, to 
open a store," continues Mr. Tucker, when he returned; and I saw 
them unload his sled, I asked him where his groceries were; he 
said: "In the barrels." "That looks like whiskey," I said; "yes;" 
was the reply. When I got ready to buy, I studied what would 
. sell best and quickest and pay the most profit; and concluded 
it was whiskey and bought a barrel; then I studied again and 
thought of whiskey, and kept on thinking and buying until I had 
purchased five barrels of the stuff, and I guess I was about right. 
G. R. Rowley, was one of the prominent men ol that town, and 
one of the freest and most open-hearted men I have ever met — 
ready to divide his last meal with any one — his house was open 
for all. He had a number of boarders, young men seeking their 
fortunes in the mighty west, and it was a lively place. In 
1857 he went to Iowa City, to attend the Republican convention; 
a resolution was offered, before the meeting, that the motto of the 
party be "liberty or death," and he immediately amended it by 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 275 

proposing as a substitute, that it be; "Root hog or die." 

Among his boarders were E. R. Gillett, our first Republican 
representative; M. F. Gillett, the now noted Greenbacker of Bremer 
county, and others. 

"At the first election in the county, there were about fifty votes 
polled; and a barrel of whiskey with the head knocked out, and a 
quart dipper to drink out of stood by the polls. It sometimes 
took two men to hold up the voter long enough for him to cast his 
ballot. I remember, distinctly, one man that was elected justice 
of the peace, being held up in that condition while he voted; 
(we have improved some on that since, for at the last election in 
Chickasaw township, the only man on the ground that was drunk, 
was elected justice of the peace, to spite the amendment folks.) 

"Hon. James S. Wilson, of Dubuque, was the first district judge. 
The first time he came to hold court, he drove his ponies up to a 
log cabin prepared for the purpose, and without getting out of his 
buggy, told the sheriff to open court; which was accordingly done, 
and court was held under the canopy of Heaven, like the Vehme- 
gericht, of old. "Mr. Clerk," said he, "are there any cases on the 
docket." "No sir," was the reply; "make a record, and Mr. Sheriff 
adjourn the court;" was the judges answer; which was done, 
and off he drove. If the lawyers had stayed away from this 
section, this might be the case now, in all probability. 

"James Lyon, of Crane Creek, a trapper, was our first county 
judge. The first time he came to Bradford to hold court; he 
walked over from his home. I think I see him now, as he came 
into the village, he was remarkably clean and starched up, his 
blue denim overalls, which he wore for pants, had been washed 
until they had shrunk half way to his knees. We, however, 
thought ourselves equal to the emergency. In the course of the 
•evening we made up a purse to buy him a new pair of pants, but 
when it was mentioned to him in the morning; he disdained the 
offer with scorn, with remarks about being bribed. 

"The winter of 1853-4, was a very severe one, but at one time 
during the season it sets in and thawed, the rain melting the snow 
•of which there was plenty, all off. As we had been corralled all 
winter by the cold and snow, we concluded to go coon hunting. 
We divided into parties, three in each, Andy Sample, Cal Goddard 
•and myself in one, and James Rowley, Doc. Haynes, and another, 
in the other. We each took a wagon and team, feed and provis- 



276 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

ions. Our company crossed the Wapsie 2 o^clock p. m., fording 
the stream, took a hmch — baited the team, and started for coon. 
It was then warm, but in less than two hours we were driven back 
by a severe storm and heavy fall of snow. We consulted what to 
do, and concluded to remain where we were, and save ourselves as 
best we could, rather than risk freezing to death, by trying to 
move from the grove. We cut down a number of young white 
oaks, with the leaves on, and made a good windbreak. Behind 
this we moved our wagon and team, and building a rousing fire, 
and made the best of it, till morning. About 9 o'clock, next day 
we decided to get back home, if we could, the wind blowing hard; 
we crossed on the ice, with team, at the same place we had forded 
the afternoon before, and got home before night, all safe, and not 
even frosted. The other party were not so lucky, as frozen toes, 
fingers and noses testified, and which they nursed tenderly the 
balance of the winter. The Dr. and 1 amused ourselves the rest of 
the season, breaking and training a young elk, to work in a sleigh. 
We took a trip to Cedar Falls with him, about forty miles 
away, and on our return, a dog ran out from Barrett's house, at 
Janesville, and barked at our quadruped, who became unmanagable 
and took after the dog, who run and jumped the fence into the 
yard; the elk followed him and- left us hanging on the fence, in a 
dilapidated condition. 

"Mr Brink was our first postmaster; the conditions on which 
the office was granted, was that we should carry our own mails 
from Cedar Falls for the proceeds of the office; (no Star Routes 
then,) in no case was the government to pay anything. Howard, 
Floyd, Mitchell and Chickasaw counties got their mail at Brad- 
ford. I made seven trips that winter, for mail, to Cedar Falls, 
forty miles and back, at my own expense, four days to a trip, 
through the snow; and found that no mail had come through 
from Dubuque, three times out of the seven. 

"Work on the saw mill at the town of Chickasaw was com- 
menced, and the town surveyed, platted and commenced in 1854. 
The plank and other lumber had to be hauled from Auburn, 
through the sloughs, bridges being represented by an unknown 
quantity. 

"The first school was taught by Miss Jane Billings, in a house 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 277 

I built myself; she taught two terms, and I paid her, before we 
were organized for school purposes. 

"Among the first pastors were Elder Lash, a member of the 
United Brethren, and Elder Prentiss, a free will Baptist minister, 
these did most excellent service. There was also a close com- 
munion Baptist, whose name I have forgotten, who came down 
from Charles City; he was a good one and most eloquent and 
always had full congregations until a job was put up on him, in 
the following manner. There was an Irish protestant family in 
the vicinity; they were very devoted, always at meeting. They 
had a child born, and when the minister had finished preaching a 
most eloquent sermon, these people were induced to walk up to 
him with the babe in arms, and ask the minister if he would 
"please to christen" it for her. The sensation is easier imagined 
than described; the minister went home with me to dinner, but 
did not mentioned it or ever came back again. 

"I was the first merchant and the first notary public, there be- 
ing no officer, for some time after I went to live there, to take 
acknowledgement of deeds or to administer oaths. I had several 
applications to marry couples, but I had to send them to West 
Union. 

"Mr. Gaddis, was the first regular carpenter, Cal. Goddard, the 
first regular shingle maker. Messrs. Albertson, Waite and Bald- 
win, built the first grist mill, and Mr. Garling house, the first 
steam saw mill; these both 1855. 

During the winter of 1853-4, a Mr. Clawson, who was at the 
head of a colony at St. Ausgar came down the Cedar, with a lot of 
men on snowshoes and with hand sleds, to get flour and provis- 
ions to keep his people from starving." The above, which is 
copied almost verbatim from Mr. Tucker's letter, covers most of 
the ground, but little can be added, but we will endeavor to give 
that little, gathered from a multitude of sources. 

According to tradition the first settlers in the township were 
Abram Cagley, Russell Baldwin, Jerome Watson, and Messrs. 
Hines, Keesley, Hoff"man and Bishop, but the exact date of their 
location, or the order of it, cannot be stated with the accuracy 
that is desirable, but the weight of evidence seems to point to the 
years 1853 and 4. 

We have the best of evidence for the statement, that the first 



278 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

child born within the limits of the township, was H. Bartlett, 
whose advent in 1855, was an event to be remembered by the few 
scattered settlers. 

Ionia is now the most important place in the township, but the 
time was, before the laying of the railroad, that Chickasaw town 
was one of the most flourishing in the county; but its "glory hath 
departed," and now, Ionia carries the pre-eminence, and contains 
a population of 350 souls, supporting two churches, a fine public 
public school, two hotels, etc. • 

An old settler reports, that, the country was so healthy that for 
several years after laying out the cemetery, there were no deaths, 
but a man, a stranger whose name never was known, was picked 
up near the banks of the Wapsie, in a dying condition. He was 
tended with the greatest sympathy, but he died and thus started 
the grave yard. 

The township was organized in 1855, according to an order of 
the court, issued during the March term of that year. 

Bassett, a thriving village, lying on the line of the railroad, 
about four miles west of Chickasaw or Ionia, is also within this 
township, and is quite a business point. 

DAYTON TOWNSHIP. 

For many of the following facts concerning Dayton township, 
we are indebted to an article prepared for the Chickasaw County 
Historical Society, by L. J. Young, and published in the New 
Hampton Courier of March 18th, 1881. The township of Dayton 
comprises the territory in the congressional township of 95 north 
of range 13 west. The surface is somewhat rolling, but no portion 
of it is hilly. The west fork of the Wapsipinicon river enters the 
township near the corner of sections 7 and 18, and runs in a 
southwesterly direction through sections 18, 19, 20, 29 and 32. 
The middle fork enters near the line between sections 4 and 5, and 
runs nearly south through sections 4, 9, 16, 21, 28 and 33. These 
streams abounded in beaver, otter, mink and muskrat, at an early 
date. Timber in this township is plentiful and generally evenly 
distributed; it is principally jack oak, burr oak and hickory. 
There are no stone quarries, but boulders convertible into build- 
ing stone, or for walling wells and cellars, by blasting or drilling 
and splitting, are found on the prairies, and at the heads of sloughs. 
The soil is generally a rich loam, with clay subsoil. Good water 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 278 

is generally obtainable by digging to a depth of from ten to sixteen 
feet. The township is especially well adapted to stock-raising and 
dairying, industries which are constantly receiving increasingly 
profitable attention. 

The first appearance of settlement in Dayton township was 
made by a land speculator, in the shape of an entry of a valuable 
tract of timber, some time during the month of May, 1853, it ha,v- 
ing been Mr. Young's opinion that "greedy speculators" were 
largely responsible for retarding the township's actual settlement 
and growth. 

The first settlers to come into the township were William Mil- 

likan, an Irishman, and Smith, of Illinois. They pitched 

their tent on the east half of section 23. William Millikan pre- 
empted the northeast quarter and Smith the southeast quarter in 
September, 1854. During the same month William Millikan 
erected a "one-side roofed shanty" near Spring creek, on the land 
he pre-empted. This place was known by hunters for miles around 
who frequented the Wapsies for game, during the winter of 1854-5, 
as the "Hunters' Home." Many times has its worthy host sup- 
plied the wants of fifteen or twenty hunters, traveJers or land spec- 
ulators in a single night. Smith disjDOsed of his claim to a land 
speculator in the fall or beginning of the winter of 1854. "The 
same winter," says the article from which we quote,^ "our honest 
and worthy host of the 'Hunters' Home' was shamefully wronged 
from the legal possession of his homestead. The facts, related to me 
by him, were as follows: During the fall, Millikan received Intel 
ligence that his son lay sick at Dubuque, and was not likely to 
recover, and wished to see him. He left all his household goods 
in his house and went to Dubuque. While he was gone a land 
speculator with two bribed witnesses, made oath that Mr. Millikan 
had left the country, and did not intend to return, and entered the 
land. Mr. Millikan, being a raw Irishman, and knowing nothing 
about the laws of our country, made no disturbance about it on 
his return." 

The first effort at tilling the soil was begun INlay 19th, 1855, on 
the southeast quarter of section 1, by J. D. Colt, Esq., of New 
York. He raised an excellent crop of corn the same season, on the 
newly turned soil. Mr. Colt's prospects for making a first-class 
farm were very flattering, when his hopes were blighted. He 



279 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

erected a good log house, and began to think himself comfortably 
situated — as comfortable as a bachelor generally makes himself; 
for Mr. Colt Avas at that time a bachelor — when, in November, 
William Haslam, of Illinois, put in an appearance with a title to 
• the same land from the government — Haslam 's title bearing date 
nineteen days previous to (Jolt's. The latter gave Haslam permis- 
sion to occupy the house, but retained possession of all the im- 
provements till the first of March, 1856, when he gave full posses- 
sion upon being informed that Haslam 's title would hold good. 
Haslam paid Colt a reasonable price for the improvements, and the 
matter was amicably adjusted to the satisfaction of both parties. 

D. A. Jackson, of Pennsylvania, entered about 270 acres on the 
21st of May, 1855. In June he commenced breaking and building a 
house and stable on section 11. Mr. Jackson, being an eastern 
man, began farming in true eastern style. 

During the spring of this year, Benjamin Bailey, of Ohio, and 
father of Judge Lorenzo Bailey, settled on section 34. Ker- 
shaw and Negus settled on section 28, made some improve- 
ments, sold in the autumn and left. J. B. Cotant, of Ohio, settled 
on section 3, in July of the same year. Eli Darst, of Illinois, 
came in June of this year, and made some improvements on sec- 
tion 17. In July, E. B. Hewit settled on section 1. William S. 
Morley came during the year, and settled on section 10. Rev. C. 
M. Webster came in the fall of 1855, and settled on section 4, and 
in the summer of 1856 he opened quite an extensive farm. Mr. 
Webster was elected county surveyor in August, 1856, and was ap- 
pointed by the ])Ostmaster general as postmaster of the Beaver 
City postoffice, which was located at his place of residence. This 
postoffice was subsequently relocated in Utiea township. During 
the fall of 1855 Z. H. Morton, of Wisconsin, settled on section 14; 
James Clark settled on section 9. Settlers came in rapidly for a 
short time in 1856. 

Da3^ton township was organized April 6, 1857. D. A. Jackson 
Avas the organizing constable. The first election was held at Mr. 
Jackson's house on the day just named. The "house" was "called 
to order" by appointing Eli Darst chairman, and E. R. Gillett 
secretary. A ballot was then taken for judges of election, resulting 
in the choice of C."M. Webster, William S. Morley and Wesley 
Swayze. D. A. Jackson and L. J. Young were chosen clerks o 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 280 

election. The board of electors were sworn to perform their duties 
according to law, by Rev. S. M. Prentiss, a justice of the peace of 
Kichland township. The following officers were elected: C. M. 
Webster, Eli Darst and Wesley Swayze, trustees, Levi. J. Young, 
clerk; E. R. Gillett, W. S. Morley, Justices of the peace; E. B. 
Miller, William Haslam, constables; Z. H. Morton, road supervis- 
or. The whole number of ballots cast was twenty -three. W. S. 
Morley and E. B. Hewit were opposing candidates for justice of 
the peace, and received a tie vote. W. S. Morley was declared 
elected by lot. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

The territory comprised within the congressional township of 
ninety-six, and the south half of ninety-seven, north, range 
thirteen, west, is known as Washington. The surface is gently 
undulating, rather than rolling prairie, but is of a rich, black 
loam, that proclaims this to be one of the best townships in the 
county for fine farm land. Like the balance of the county it is 
well watered, the east fork of the Wapsipinicon river having its 
source in the northern part, and flowing in a southeasterly course 
throughout it. The "Little Wapsie" also enters the township at 
the northwest corner of section 7, flows also in a southeasterly 
direction, watering sections 7,18, 20, 29, 32, and 33. These streams 
abound with fish, and the traditional stories that are told of the 
amounts of otter, mink, and muskrats that inhabited .their waters, 
in early days, are almost incredible. 

The timber in this township is not so plentiful as in some others, 
and what there is is composed principally of jack oak, burr oak,and 
hickory. There is no building stone within its bounderies, except 
the massive boulders, relics of a mineral age, which are convert- 
able into excellent material to lay up foundation walls, or walling 
up wells. These are found scattered all over its surface, and are 
specimens of granitic formation; but by blasting and splitting 
they are soon reduced and shaped to the purposes of man. Ac- 
cording to tradition, Samuel W. Byers was the first settler within 
its limits, but even this is disputed by some, and when "doctors 
disagree, who can tell?" The same fortune seems to attend to 
Washington that does to the others in the county; little, if any, 



281 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

settlement until 1855, then quite an immigration, so much so, that 
at the March term of the court, 1856, the order was granted for its 
organization as a separate township, but for some irregularity in 
the proceedings said organization was set aside, and the township 
was attached to that of Deerfield until April, 1859, when it was 
once more attempted to conclude the organization, and this time 
with success. North Washington is the only village in the to^vn- 
ship, and is situated on the southwest quarter of section twenty, 
on the banks of the Little Wapsie, and contains a postoffice and 
store, a saloon, a fine Catholic church, and the usual blacksmith 
shop; the inhabitants are mostly German, or of that extraction. 

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 

The earliest settlement within the limits of township 94, north, 
range 13, west, now known as Richland, was made by Jas. B. 
Upham, who, as early as the fall of 1854, located his farm on 
section one, about one mile north of where the present village of 
Williamstown stands; here he reared the family mansion, more 
comfortable than palatial, out of the logs cut from the woods so 
near his own door, and like Selkirk could have said he was 
"monarch of all he surveyed," for not a neighbor for twenty miles 
was there. 

Joel Parsons and David Tingley, however, located their farms in 
the fall of the same year, but did not move on them until in the 
spring of 1855, when they took up their residence in the county. 
In the same year, viz, March 20, 1855, H. H. Bailey laid claim to 
a farm in section twelve, the same as now owned by him. With 
him came George Bailey, Malachi Hardock and others, and 
were followed by a colony of twenty -one persons from the town 
of Erie, Penn. These parties procured an order from the county 
court, at the March term, 1856, to organize the township, and pro- 
ceeded to elect the necessary officers and lay the foundation for 
the present system of government. 

Forest City was, by some irregular proceedings of the board of 
canvassers, declared the county seat in April, 1858, but in June of 
the same year an information being filed in the clerk's office, the 
court ordered a mandamus restraining the records, etc., from being 
taken there from New Hampton, and ordering the board to correct 
the irregularities of their return and count the votes; this was 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 282 

reversed by the supreme court on an appeal being taken. The 
court decided, however, at the spring term, 1859, that the town of 
New Hampton had the best claim to county seatship, and the 
records were returned to that place, and Forest City has quietly 
retired to private life, and is now numbered with the things that 
were. Where its streets were laid out now nods the bending corn, 
and where its citizens trod, with the proud step of the metro- 
politan, now echoes only to the tread of lowing kine and the 
whistling ploughman. 

The first brick edifice erected within the limits of the county 
was built in Forest City in the year 1857, and was a woodhouse, 
henhouse, etc., and owned by the Hon. Hiram Bailey; the mason 
who laid the bricks in the walls was no less a personage than J. H. 
Powers, now one of the most shining lights of the Chickasaw 
county bar. These bricks were burned in a kiln owned and 
operated by Zelotes and Thompson Bailey, who enjoy the credit of 
making the first bricks ever manufactured in the county. 

Williamstown has absorbed all that was of Forest City, and still 
remains a small, though enterprising, village. It seems that Wm. 
Grant applied for a postoffice at or near Forest City, and gave it 
the name of Williamstown, but in 1877 it was moved to the corners 
where it is now located. The first postmaster after its removal 
was W. Hood, who still retains the onerous ofiice. The store is 
owned b}'^ Hood & Bailey, who also own the creamery. 

The town also boasts of a neat and tasty church, in which the 
Methodist Episcopal denomination meet for worship. It was 
erected during the year 1881, by Bennett Bros., of New Hampton, 
at a cost of SI, 825, and reflects great credit upon them for the 
substantial and workmanlike, in which it has been built. It is of 
frame, 26x42 feet, and has a seating capacity of about 250. The 
present pastor, who presides over the spiritual welfare of this 
flock, whose number is about fifty -five, is Elder Jno. Jones. And 
here it would, perhaps, be as well to say that Rev. Samuel Prentiss 
delivered the first sermon in the township at an early day, but the 
exact date our informants were not agreed on. 

The educational interests of the younger generations are insured 
by a fine school, Avhich is open the whole year, and under the wise 
administration of Principal Milo George, and Assistant Principal 
Bradley A. Lillebridge, the sixty-five pupils make the necessary 



283 HISTOEY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. * 

progress. Anna Lillebridge is secretary and treasurer of the school 
board of the district. 

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

We have been so fortunate as to obtain the MSS. of a historical 
sketch of Deerfield township, written by I. A. Sawin, in 1859, 
which, as a concise and accurate account of the township to that 
year, we quote in full: 

"Deerfield township embraces town 96, range 14, and the south 
half of town 97. The surface is generally undulating, or gently 
rolling, being in no part hilly. The bottom land of the streams, 
say one-half mile in width, is nearly level. The West Wapsie 
enters the township near the northwest corner, and runs its entire 
length in a direction east of south. The Middle Wapsie runs a few 
miles through the northeast corner of the township, also in a 
southeasterly direction. I believe there are no good mill sites on 
the streams. The water is good and furnishes great facilities for 
raising stock. The larger portion ol the township is prairie. 
Valuable groves of timber, principally of the kind known as jack 
oak, are found along the streams and in the northern part. This 
timber is excellent for fencing, being easily made into rails. A 
single acre has been known to yield four or five thousand. Timber 
for building purposes is very scarce. 

"The soil is generally of rich sandy loam from one to three feet 
in depth, lying on a clayey subsoil. Water of excellent quality is 
obtained by digging from twelve to twenty feet. In the nort^i 
center of ninety -six, extending into ninety -seven, is a tract of 
several hundred acres of limestone land, furnishing inexhaustible 
quarries for lime and for building. 

"Wild animals, which abounded at the time of settlement, are 
now scarce. A few deer, of the hundreds which once abounded 
here, are all that now remain. A small pack of grey wolves — 
perhaps half a dozen — still make their home with us. The prairie 
wolf — a skulking, cowardly brute, which sometimes, though 
seldom, performs the feat of robbing a henroost — is quite plenty. 
A few wildcats, badgers and raccoons are also found. Of amphibia 
the beaver, otter, muskrat, and mink are quite plenty. 

"The southeast quarter of section three abounds with the remains 
of human skeletons, and on the surrounding prairie, to the distance 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 284 

of two miles, they are occasionally found. When the first settlers 
came upon the ground, in 1854, the stench arising from the 
slaughter ground was yet quite strong. I have not yet been able 
to obtain a very clear or autlientic account of this massacre, by 
which several hundred human beings must have lost their lives; 
but the following, obtained at second-hand, two years ago, from a 
Winnebago Indian, is submitted in the hope that inquiry may be 
stimulated and more certain information be procured: 

"About twelve ye?rs ago — or say in 1847 — a party of Sioux 
warriors left their old men, women, and children, to the number 
of three hundred or more, here, and proceeded to Prairie du Chien. 
A party of Winnebago warriors found the camp in this unprotected 
condition, and murdered every soul. They then took the road to 
the Mississippi, and meeting the returning Sioux warriors, settled 
the affair by paying them fifty ponies as an indemnity. The 
skeletons, many of which were those of infants, corroborate the 
main facts of this account, but the time given does not agree with 
the statements of the first settlers, or the well known condition of 
the skeletons in 1856, many of which were entire at that time. I 
think the date of the massacre must be later than that given in the 
above account. 

"On the 5th of May, 1854, the first 25ernianent settlement was 
made in this township. Almon Harris, of Massachusetts, John 
Spurr, Myrick Spurr, and Edwin Hale pitched their tents on 
sections three and four, and immediately commenced imj^rove- 
nients. Mr. Harris is still a citizen of the townshij?; the other 
three have left. Though a mechanic by trade, Mr. Harris' efforts 
at farming are successful in bringing under cultivation a quarter 
section of the most beautiful prairie, and at this time, September 
1859, he is building a substantial frame building, ample for all the 
purposes of his farm. His nearest neighbor was James Frazee, of 
Chickasaw, seven miles distant. 

"The second settler was William Morris, an Englishman by 
birth, wh« settled on section eight in the latter part of May, 1854, 
and who is still a resident of the township. About the same time 
Abner Gallup also settled on section eight, but did not remain 
long. William Doyle and Mrs. Martha Harris came in early in 
the spring of 1855, and settled in the northern part of the town- 
ship. M. P. Choat settled in the southern part about the same 



285 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. • 

time, and immigrants now came in so rapidly that in the autumn 
of 1856 there were nearly as many settlers as at the present time. 

"I am not aware that any mineralogical or geological examina- 
tions have been made by scientific men. I am informed by C. H» 
Dore, Esq., tliat while digging a well on the farm of David Love- 
lace, on sections 12 — 96, at the depth of sixteen feet pieces of 
timber resembling cedar trees of several inches in diameter were 
taken out. Small specimens of coal were also found, which 
ignited and burned readily. While digging a cellar on the farm 
of Heman Culver, Esq., I found many specimens of a petrified 
nut, resembling tlie Madeira nut in every particular, save that they 
were larger. 

"Deerfield township was organized April 7, 1856. William F. 
Wright was the organizing officer. The first election was held at 
the house of C. D. French on the same day. Heman Culver, 
Jacob A. Cummins, and M. P. Choat were judges, and William F. 
Wright, and J. G. Farnum, clerks. The following is a list of the 
officers chosen: 

Trustees— M. P. Choat, M. D. Harris, and C. D. French. 

Justices of the peace — Heman Culver, and T. W. Ashley. 

Clerk— J. G. Farnum. 

Assessor — Jacob A. Cummins. 

Constables — D. Jared, and Willard Bennett. 

Road supervisor — Chauncey Boyes. 

Whole number of votes cast, 24. 

The almost total destruction of the crops of 1858, caused by the 
extraordinary floods of that season, reduced many settlers to ex- 
tremities, and many subsisted during the year on the barest 
necessaries of life. Again, this season, 1859, the farmer is doomed 
to the almost total loss of his corn by the frost of September 2d. 
But such is the energetic character of the people, that but little 
discouragement is manifested. They feel confident that a suc- 
cession of good seasons, which must soon follow, will relieve them 
of their embarrassments and repay them for all their toil and 
privations. Seldom does an entire township present a more 
industrious population. I do not know of a single ablebodied 
individual, who does not obey the scriptural injunction, to earn 
his bread by laborious industry. Surely, if any community de- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 286 

serves a bountiful supply of the necessaries of life, this community 
ought to receive it." 

JACKSONVILLE TOWNSHIP. 

Jacksonville township embraces all of the territory known as 
townships 96, and south half of 97, north, and 12, west, and con- 
tains a township and a half, surveyors measure, or 54 sections. 
Like the balance of the county it is well watered. Crane and Plum 
creeks, and the Little Wapsie traversing its almost entire length. 
The soil is rich, dark soil, as most bottom lands are, with the 
exception of some sandy spot near the creeks and river. The 
juicy grasses, which cover the unfilled portion of the land, are 
such as to draw the attention of much of the farming community 
to the business of stock raising and grazing, and we find this to he 
the principal mode of farming, although some land is given to 
raising corn, wheat, oats, barley, timothy, and other grains and 
seeds. 

Of the early settlement of this township it is impossi])lc to 
decide who was the first to locate within its bounderies, but the 
weight of evidence seems to indicate that Henry Shaffer was the 
first pioneer who located therein; the date of his settlement was 
1853. Hazzard Green located himself in 1854, and seems to have 
been the second, but we find among those that came the same year 
the names of John Davidson, Hiram Palmer, R. H. Mills, T. E. 
Mills, J. Fitzpatrick, Frank Dane, John Conner, S. Shaft, and B. 
B. Orton. The following year many more located in 'the same 
township, among them D. R. Kerby, now the banker in the town 
of Lawler, and Francis Clarkin. 

Hazzard Green built the first house in the township, a log hotel 
on what was later the plat of the town of Jacksonville. This- 
hotel he was landlord of until 1857, when it was torn down. 
Shortly after he erected it, Allen and Wilkerson, of McGregor, 
built a branch store at this place, the first in the township, this was 
in the fall of 1855. It was a board shanty 14x20, erected in a 
week, no plastering adorned the walls, and, the winter being a 
severe one, the wind and weather kept the temperature within it 
at so low an ebb that John R. Jarrett, who was manager and Clerk 
(now a prominent merchant of McGregor, Iowa,) was compelled 
to wear his overcoat and overshoes all the time to keep comfort- 



287 HISTORY OP CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

able. The first blacksmith in the place was — White and Julius P. 
North opened a hardware and tinware store in the same 3'ear. In 
the year 1856, the proprietors of the ground on which the town of 
Jacksonville now stands, seeing from this growing settlement that 
a town would eventually spring up there laid out and platted it 
and and put the lots in market. At this time the hotel, stores of 
Allen &. AVilkerson and J. P. North the blacksmith shop and the 
dwelling houses of Messrs. White and North comprised the whole 
of the town yet it was of considerable importance being a stopping 
place on the roads from Dubuque to Austin, Albert Lea, etc. 

All the goods at this time were brought from, Dubuque except 
flour and tliat was from the nearest mills at Clermont, Elgin and 
Elkader, and all the freight for the places beyond traveled the 
thorough fare that passed through Jacksonville township. Hazzard 
Green at this time was landlord of the hotel, justice of the peace 
and postmaster, for he had by his efforts succeeded in having a 
postoffice located here as early as 1855. Although he and several 
other parties had to bear the expense of supporting the stage 
which brought the mail from West Union, this they did for accom- 
modation of the- ]:»eople as no postal route was laid out from that 
place. 

Jacksonville at its first organization was united with Utica, and 
the two together were known as. Obispo township; the date of this 
first organization is gained from an order of the county judge at 
the March term of court 1855, wherein is ordered the organizing, 
•and necessary election, of Obispo township. But at the March term 
1858, by order of the court the townships were separated and 
■organized as they now are, and this one named, Jacksonville, by 
one of the parties who was influential in the movement, a Mr. 
Dickinson, who came from Jacksonville, Ills. 

The first school according to the best accounts was one opened in 
the town of Jacksonville during 1855, and taught by aman by 
the name of Cole, although it is claimed that a school was taught 
in a log cabin near Crane Creek the year before, by a son-in-law of 
Dickinson's, but of this there remains nothing certain, and the 
question remains involved in some obscurity. 

The first preaching in the town was from the lips of "Elder 
Dickinson" as he is commonly called to this day, and occurred in 
the year 1856. In that year there were two church societies 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 288 

formed, a Methodist and a Baptist, but neither ever erected a 
church; nor has there ever been one built in the town yet, al- 
though several are scattered throughout the township, both of 
these societies worshipped in the school house. 

During the panic of 1857, the town, like many others scattered 
throughout our grand old state, suffered from the effect of the col- 
lapse in values, and the wheat crop of that year seems to have 
failed, for man}' old settlers relate how in that year starvation 
stared them in the face; all winter they fought the wolf from 
the door, soft corn was their only food and especially 
blessed was he that had enough of that; every merchant failed 
and went under, and the whole business ot the place seemed to be 
paralyzed; long had they to remember that terrible winter; and it 
seems that the town has never recovered from it, even to this day 
there is no business transacted there, and, but a feeble remnant of 
a town is visible. 

Early in its history, Dr. Edw. Hubbard located himself at the 
town and commenced the practice of medicine, but the country 
proved so healthy, that he lingered along for several years and see- 
ing that his chances to acquire a fortune were small, he "departed 
for pastures new" and for many years the place was without a 
physician, and as for lawyers it is said none ever settled within its 
limits. 

Jacksonville township has but little of the eventful in its his- 
tory that would make it interesting, but it has been said "that the 
less there is of history to write about a place, the more it demon- 
strates that its existence has been peaceful." 

At one time there were several stores in addition to those named 
above among which we find — the names of Dickinson & Vaughn, 
Kerby and Lynch and others. A store kept by John VanAuken 
now of Lawler, was the last in the place. 

UTICA TOWNSHIP. 

This is the eastern of the northern tier of townships. It is well 
watered by the Little Turkey river, which enters it on section 19, 
township 97, north range IJ, west, and running in a southeasterly 
course passes out on section 25, township 96, range 11, west; and 
by Crane creek, which irrigates the southwestern quarter. The 
land is fine rolling prairie, interspersed with good timber; the 



289 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

latter being particularly fine on the creek and river bottoms. 
There is a postoffice at Saude in the northern part of the township, 
but most of the community avail themselves of the Lawler post- 
office, which is most convenient of access, besides being their prin- 
cipal shipping and trading point. This township was united to 
Jacksonville and known as Obispo, until March, 1858, when they 
were seperated by order of the county court and organized on 
their present basis. 

This is a purely agricultural and stock-raising township, no 
towns or villages dot its prairies, and with the exception above 
mentioned no postoffices, are located therein. 

The northern part of it is largely populated by the Scandina\dan 
element, but in the southern part the Irish and native American 
prevails. 

Tradition hath it that the first settler in what is how Utica 
township was Jas. Lyon, or as he is familiarly known; "Judge 
Lyon" who located on land therein as early as the summer of 1852. 
But we are credibly informed that he was preceded two years by 
Terence Curamerford who reared his roof tree and ploughed his 
acres as early as 1850. These were followed in 185o by G. Clapper 
and in 1854 by Wm. Everingham. These scattered farms, which 
they essayed to open formed the nucleus of the settlements of the 
next few years, that in a short time transformed the lifeless waste 
into smiling farms, whose rich harvests gathered each year add to 
the wealth of the county. Among the arrivals for the year 1855 
occurs the name of D. R. Kerby, now engaged in the banking 
business at Lawler. 

DRESDEN TOWNSHIP. 

Township 94, north range 12, west, is known as Dresden. Much 
of the land is covered with timber and brush although it has some 
very fine farm lands, and is well watered by the East Wapsipini- 
can river, or as it is more familiarly called "Wapsie." There is no 
village within its boundary, not even a store or postoffice, and the 
inhabitants get their mail either at Fredericksburg, just across the 
line, in the township of the same name, which lies directly east of 
it; or at Williamstown on the west. There is no data from which 
to gather any of the first settlers names from oblivion, and as the 
population is purely and simply agricultural has little or no his- 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 290 

tory. The story of every da}'^ life, while it has the charms of 
peacefulness and quiet, has nothing in it attractive to the historian 
or romancer, nor would it be interesting to the general reader. 
The township was organized, as such, in the year 1859, the order 
of the county court being issued at the March term of that year. 
Subsequently, the east tier of sections were detached and added to' 
Fredericksburg township, but have since been restored, except, 
the southeast quarter of section 12, and the northeast quarter of 
section 13, which still remain a part of the latter. The only in- 
dustrial institution within the township, as far as we have learned 
is, the cheese factory about one mile north of Williamstown. This 
was established by John Kolthoff, May, 1878, and has been in 
active business ever since. The building is a neat and substantial 
edifice and supplied with all the modern machinery for turning 
out a first-class article, and judging from the prosperity of the 
owner, it most likely does. 

o 



The following letter, in regard to the "Little Brown Church," at 
at Bradford, was received to late for insertion in its proper place, in 
the history of that township, but as it j^resents a picture, drawn 
by a masterly hand, of the early labors of the first pastor; the 
building of the church, whose very existence seems classical; the 
church of which that "Sweet Singer in Israel," W. S. Pitts, of Fred- 
ericksburg has written such a charming song. The winter Rev. J. 
K. Nutting, was the first shepherd of the church, and although 
the letter was not written for publication, we have taken the lib- 
erty of inserting it in full. 

MiLBANK, Dakota, February 22, 1883. 
Editor Chickasaw County History: 

I received your note in reference to the "Little Brown Church" 
at Bradford, and am happy to reply, tho' I shall hardly be able to 
specify as minutely as to dates, as you may wish, but these you 
can readily obtain. 

I came to Bradford in October 1859. At that time the town 
was quite the metropolis of the county, and the prospect was 
good that manufacturing would be carried on to an extent that 
would sustain a large population. The county seat had already 
been transferred to New Hampton, which was a lonesome and 



291 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

unlikely -looking spot enough, tho' occupied by some most excellent 
people. 

My congregation moved about, seldom more than three months 
in a place, for several years. At first we worshiped in a hall over 
what was then Thomas' store (now, perhaps, Dickenson's). Then 
we went to a large square room directly north of that — built by 
Andy Sample for a store. This building had been left without 
care, and had been taken possession of by sheep, until our little 
flock ousted them. Then we Avent to the dining room of the Cory 
hotel, and sometimes, I think, to the ball room of the Bronson 
house. At last we settled in the brick school house (now 
academy), which, at that time was a most uncomfortable place. 

During the year 1861-2 (I should say), I occupied for a study, a 
room in the house of Mr. Dickinson. Here began the little church 
building. 

Our able men were mostly in the army. The times were ex- 
cessively hard. Wheat, at McGregor or Waterloo, about thirty- 
six cents per biishel. "Stumjitail" Wisconsin money going back 
on us; everything looking dark. S. F. Eastman came to my study 
to consult with me; he said it would not be possible to raise as 
large a salary as I had been receiving, but hoped I would try and 
stay on what could be raised, that is, four hundred and fifty 
dollars. I told him (what he already knew), that prices of all 
merchandise had nearly doubled, and that it would be very 
difticult to provide for my family, but that I would stay on one 
condition: that he should take hold with me, heart and hand, to 
build a church. To this he agreed, and I considered success a 
certainty from that moment. 

Soon after we made our first move by going to Mr. J. Watson 
for a donation of timber. He went with us to the woods, and 
generously marked for our use enough of the finest oaks on his 
land, to furnish nearl}^ all the dimension timber and coarse lumber 
generally, for the whole building (the sills, however, were given by 
Joseph Bird). This done, I next secured a force of choppers 
(headed, I think, by Dea. Billings), to go into the woods and get 
these trees ready for the mill. Some of the logs were hauled to 
the mill (then near by), on the snow, but many were left until the 
next June. Then Wm. Pomeroy got an ox team, and I went with 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 292 

him to get the rest. I shall always remember that job, because of 
a singular incident. We disturbed a pheasant with a covey of half- 
grown young. The mother made the usual fuss and pretence to 
draw our attention, while the chicks scattered in all directions. 
The team passed on and I lingered behind to see wliat would 
happen. In a few moments I heard the peculiar call of the 
mother bird, and in an instant one and another of the chicks came 
whirring past me, to rejoin her. One oi them came so near that 
I put out my hand and caught it as one would a ball, "on a fly.' 
I feel reasonably certain that in this respect I stand alone among 
my race. Who, beside me, ever achieved the distinction of catch- 
ing a pheasant with the bare hand, on the wing? But I should 
not expect to do it again. 

If memory serves, we also got the lots about the same time, 
given, I think, by Joseph (or John), Bird, and beautiful by reason 
of the encircling oaks; and we also got out the stone for the 
foundation; Mr. Newton Palmer taking a leading hand at the 
quarrying. During the summer or fall we again made a bee, and 
laid the foundation, which, on the inside, presents several varieties 
of style. I recall the fact that one brother laid the stone slanting, 
like those in the stone iences of New England, which had been 
the origin of his stone craft. But all being fitly joined together, 
answered the purpose, and we laid the sills with rejoicing. 

Was it about a year after that, that we began to erect the hoiise ? 
I should think so. And I do not remember that we had any sub- 
scription paper (though I may be mistaken), till much later, But 
every one gave labor or material as he could, and ste]) by step 
progress was made. The house was roughly enclosed, except part 
of the tower that fall. Then rough boards were laid for a floor, 
and some use was made of the building. I specially remember a 
school exhibition under Mr. Taylor. It was well on in December, 
and there was no way to warm the building, but an exceptionally 
mild winter allowed the children to appear on the stage without 
discomfort, even in the most gauzy attire. 

The next spring the finishing of the house was let by contract 
to two brothers (names gone from me), and a subscription was 
made for ])ine lumber to finish with. This was hauled, I think 
from McGregor. We were to receive a certain amount from the 
Congregational building fund, $400 or. $500. But it began to ap- 



293 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

pear that even that amount would not be sufficient, and we all 
began to think where we could gain a little more help. It occurred 
to me that perhaps something could be obtained from the wealthy 
church of Pittsfield, Mass., whose pastor, Rev. John Todd, D. D, 
(author of "Student's Manual," "Index Rerum," etc.), had been 
formerly pastor of the church with which my parents were con- 
nected. A letter to him brought a characteristic reply, inclosing 
more than a hundred dollars. This began a most interesting per- 
sonal acquaintance with the doctor, and led to my visiting him 
repeatedly, and it happened that I had the privilege of attending 
him during a portion of his last sickness, in 1873. 

The first religious use of the house was in the fall after it was 
furnished, but not seated — date forgotten — for the funeral obsequies 
of Mrs. Smith, wife of Capt. John Smith. The dedication occurred 
I should think, during the following winter, bad weather prevent- 
ing the presence of most of those invited. This brought us to the 
spring of 1865, when, as a delegate to the "Boston Council," I 
went east. While at Pittsfield I received a commission from 
Thomas Colt, of that place, to go to Troy, N. Y., and select a bell 
for the church. I did so, and sent it on. On its way it excited 
much attention, being rung by the crowd at Dunleith, Dubuque, 
and more or less at nearly every station along the line. On my 
return I found it in place in the belfry. The pulpit of solid oak 
was made under my direction by a carpenter at Greenwood; I 
cannot call his name. 

In some of these statements I may also possibly be mistaken. 

What days those were when we we were all working together for 
that great object ! And though I have since had in hand much 
heavier jobs — have erected churches into which that might be set 
(without more than docking the top of the tower a little), and 
have plenty of room all around — yet never have I more enjoyed 
my work. 

The railroad destroyed the town, but I am glad to know that 
the Little Brown Church holds its own, and is still accomplishing 
the work for which it was erected. Some day I hope to revisit the 
spot, and witness how much and what of fruit remains of these 
labors so long ago. Yours very cordially, 

J. K. Nutting. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 294 

GENERAL REMARKS. 

As will be obserTed it has not been attempted to give all the 
churches and school houses in the different townships, but only 
the more jjrominent ones. Many of these are scattered over the 
rolling prairies outside of the various towns and villages, and 
without some special prominence being attached to them, it would 
be a dreary list to enumerate. 

POLITICAL. 

In politics, the county on all national and state issues, is gener- 
ally republican, the vote on the presidential election of 1880, was, 
republican, 1324; democrat, 1003; greenback, 486. In county 
matters however the party lines are not so closely drawn, and local 
issues are nearly always able to distribute the offices among the 
parties. The greenback element in the county has grown to be 
quite a power as witness the vote of 1882 when for representative 
to congress from the fourth congressional district, L. H. Weller, 
the democratic-greenback candidate, received 1,356 votes; and 
Thos. Updegraff, republican, 928. 




295 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



War Record; Action of Board of Supervisors; Care of Sol- 
diers' Families, Etc.; History of 7th Iowa Infantry; 38th 
Iowa Infantry; 4th Iowa Cavalry; Roster of Volun- 
teers. 



The principal regiments in which Chickasaw county volunteers 
served, were the seventh, and thirty-eight infantry, and fourth cav- 
alry, whose operations are briefly outlined in this chapter, however 
many men were in other regiments, as will be seen on reference to 
the roster of volunteers. A complete list of them is however im- 
possible to prepare at this day, but we have endeavored to make it 
as full as a thorough search of the adjutant general's report could 
allow, aided by the testimony of those best posted on the subject. 
But first will be taken up the action of the county government in 
regard to the matter. 

Chickasaw county was an intensely loyal county throughout the 
war of the rebellion, and her part in its history was one upon which 
her citizens are justified in looking back with pride. 

At the June meeting of the board of supervisors, in 1861, the fol- 
lowing resolution was introduced: 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. , 296 

"Whereas, There is an extensive conspiracy existing in our nation, 
set on foot for the purpose of subverting the constitution and de- 
stroying the government; and several states being in open rebel- 
lion against the government, and now making war upon the samej 
and whereas, the president of the United States has issued his pro- 
clamation, calling upon all loyal citizens to rally around the 'old 
flag,' and aid in the suppression of the rebellion; in response to 
which call, the people of the loyal states are freely offering their 
lives and money, in support of the best government on earth; and 
whereas, many of the citizens of Chickasaw county have enrolled 
themselves as members ofavolunteer company, holding themselves 
in readiness to leave their homes in the defence of their country 
therefore, 

"Resolved, That an appropriation be made to each volunteer, resi- 
dent of their county, who may enlist from this county, either in 
the state or national service, of the sum of ten dollars, as an outfit 
and the sum of three dollars per month, and the further sum of 
four dollars per month, each, to the wives of such as have families, 
and the parents of those who depend upon said volunteers for sup- 
port; and the sum of one dollar per month for each child of said 
volunteers under the age of six years. Said amounts to be paid 
for the time and during the absence of the volunteers from their 
homes, in the service. The said money to be paid to the order of 
the volunteers, or their wives, from the county treasury, out of the 
county funds not otherwise appropriated, on the warrant of the 
clerk of the board of supervisors of this county. And in further- 
ance of this object, it is hereby made the duty of the supervisors 
of each township, to furnish the clerk with a certified list of the 
names of the volunteers who go from his township, together with 
the names of the parents, wives and children of said volunteers, 
who may be entitled to money by this appropjriation. And the 
clerk is instructed to keep on file in his office said list, and when 
any person shall present a valid claim for money under this appro- 
priation, whose name shall appear on either of said lists,said claim, 
on being duly sworn to, the clerk is authorized to draw his warrant 

for said amount." 

This resolution was adopted by a vote of ten yeas to one nay. 

The age of children to be aided by the appropriation, was after- 
wards changed from six to twelve years. It will be readily seen 



297 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

that in their haste to testify the county's loyalty to the Union' 
and in their eagerness to aid in its preservation, the board entailed 
a very heavy expense upon the young and sparsely settled county; 
so great an expense, in fact, as to become a burden scarcely able 
to be borne, and it is no wonder that, subsequently, alterations in 
the plan became necessary, and expedients were resorted to for the 
purpose of making the burden lighter, while at the same time con- 
tinuing to render the assistance needed to the volunteers and their 
families. 

At the January meeting of the board, 1862, a committee of three 
was appointed to devise a plan to extricate the county from the 
difhculty occasioned by the appropriation for the benefit of the 
volunteers. This committee presented a majority report, signed by 
M. L. Palmer and M. L. Choate, and a minority report, signed by 
William B. Grant. 

The majority report was, in substance, that there were 105 vol- 
unteers entitled to the benefits of the appropriation, and the month- 
ly amount, to which they were entitled, was $483, or $5,796 per an- 
num, without reference to future enlistments. It was evident to 
the committee that the county could not meet its liabilities as fast 
as they accrued, and county warrants must depreciate to a merely 
nominal sum, thus defeating the very object of the appropriation. 

To remedy this state of affairs; it was proposed: 1st. That com- 
missioned officers, who are receiving the benefits of the appropria- 
tion, in view of the ample pay they are receiving from the govern- 
ment, be requested to release the county absolutely from further 
payments to themselves or their families. 2d. All single men, 
volunteers from this county, not having parents or friends depend- 
ent on them for support, be requested to sign an olDligation, defer- 
ring further claims to the end of the war. 3d. That those having 
families, be also requested to sign an obligation, or agreement, de- 
ferring the payment of one-third of their accruing claims until the 
close of the war. 4th. That a promise shall be inserted in said 
agreement, in relation to the deferred claims, that they shall not 
be assignable, and that they shall only inure to the benefit of the 
claimants and their families; and that $3,000 only of the deferred 
claims shall be paid in any one year. It was proposed also 
that the clerk embody the above agreement in proper form, and 
forward them at the earliest practical moment to Capts. Gardner, 



HISTOKY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 298 

Powers and Crawford, with a request that action be taken thereon by 
those intended, at the earliest possible moment. The report closed 
with the following proposed resolution: Resolved, that all bounties 
and payments to persons, who may enlist in the service of this 
state, or the United States, hereafter, from this county, shall cease 
from this date." 

This report was laid on the table, by a vote of 9 to 3. 

The minority report recited the inability of the county to bear 
the burden of the appropriation, and proposed the following reso- 
lutions: 

"Resolved, That said appropriation, as far as volunteers to 
those that do not need assistance, that have volunteered in the 
service of the state, or of the United States — residents of this coun- 
ty — be discontinued from and after this date; and that families of 
volunteers, who are in need of assistance, have such appropriation 
from the county as the supervisors or trustees of their respective 
townships shall deem necessary. And be it further 

Resolved, That the volunteers from this county, who shall, or 
have returned sick, or in any way disabled in the service, have 
such appropriation as may be deemed necessary by the county 
board of supervisors. And further, that the wives and children, 
or those dependent upon the volunteers, who have been killed in 
battle, or died in the service of this state, or the United States, 
shall be liberally provided for by the county board of super- 
visors." 

A motion to table the minority report was lost, by a vote of 3 to 
9, but at a subsequent meeting, a motion to table prevailed. 

The following resolution was offered by D. A. Jackson, and was 
adopted by a vote of 9 to 3. 

"Resolved, That the appropriation made by the board of super- 
viaors of this county, at the June meeting, 1861, for the benefit of 
volunteers and their families, be and the same is, hereby repealed, 
from and after the 6th day of January, 1862." 

D. A. Jackson, D. R. Kerby and J. H. Vantassell were ap- 
pointed a committee to draft a resolution as to the manner of pro- 
viding for the destitute families of Chickasaw county volunteers. 
The resolution was immediately prepared, received, and the com- 
mittee discharged. At the evening session, the resolution was put 
upon its passage and unanimously adopted as follows: 



299 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

"Whereas, A number of our fellow citizens have volunteered, 
and entered into the military service of the government, leaving 
families in destitute circumstances; therefore, be it 

"Resolved by the board, That all those who have volunteered 

from this county, and are in actual service of this state, or the 
United States; who may have families, residents of this county; 
that all those families of such volunteers, who are only receiving 
pay as private soldiers, are by this board considered to be entitled 
to an appropriation authorized by law to be made by the county 
board of supervisors, for the benefit of those families who are in 
destitute circumstances. And it is hereby: 

"Resolved, by this board. That an appropriation of $4.00 per 
month be made to the wives of said volunteers, and $1.00 per 
month to each child under twelve years of age, and $4.00 per 
month to the parents of such volunteers, for support; to be paid 
from the county treasury, as hereinafter prdvided. And be it 
further. 

."Resolved, That although the families of said volunteers may 
remove from the county, for temporary stay, during the absence 
of the aforesaid volunteers, they still are considered by the board 
as residents of this county. And be it further 

"Resolved, That non-commissioned officers shall be deemed as 
privates, so far as relates to this appropriation." 

A pension of $4.00 per month to widows, and $1.00 per month 
to each child of deceased volunteers, was unanimously voted. 

On examination of the books in relation to the appropriation to 
volunteers, the board found the amount in warrants issued as 
bounty to volunteers, $1,100.21; amount in warrants issued as 
monthly appropriations, $1,279; amount now due as monthly 
appropriations to January 6th, 1862, $637.48; total, $3,016.69. 

Teamsters from the county, in the service of the government, 
were declared not entitled to the benefit of the county appropria- 
tion. 

At the September meeting, 1862, it was resolved to ask the gen- 
eral assembly of the state to authorize the board of supervisors of 
Chickasaw county to levy an additional tax of three mills, to meet 
the deficiency in the county funds on account of the appropria- 
tions to the families of volunteers. At the October meeting, it 
was resolved to levy a tax of four mills for the benefit of the fami- 



HISTOEY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 300 

lies of vqlunteers, to be called the volunteer fund. At an adjourned 
meeting of the November term, 1862, the appropriation was re- 
duced to $2.00 per month for the wife, and $1.00 per month for 
each child. At the January meeting, 1864, the appropriation was 
increased to S4.00 per month for grown persons and ■ll.OO per 
month for children under the age of twelve years, "in consideration 
of the high price of necessaries, and the hardness of the winter," 
this increase to continue until the June term. 

The following appears among the proceedings of the same meet- 
ing: 

"Whereas, G. R. Rowley, of Chickasaw county, Iowa, is entitled 
to the banner, by having more sons in the United States service 
than any other man in said county; he being poor and dependent 
entirely on the efforts of one son only for his and his wife's sup- 
port; therefore, be it 

"Resolved, That the sum of $5.00 per month be allowed him 
from the county until further action by this board." 

At the September meeting, 1864, the following was spread upon 
the minutes: 

"The friends of the volunteers now in the field, who enlisted in 
1861, are requested to notify them that they will be entitled to 
$3.00 per month from the time of their enlistment up to the time 
they may be honorably discharged from the service." 

At the November meeting 1864. It was adopted "That it is 
the sense of the board, that when a drafted man of this county's 
families pays a substitute to take his place, that the drafted man's 
family is to receive the appropriation from the county the same 
as if said drafted man was in the service personally. 

And upon the records of the board for the January meeting of 
1865, we find the following: 

"Resolved, That the clerk be authorized to issue county war- 
/ rants for full pay to the families of volunteers, from this date, 
to-wit: The sum of four dollars per month to the wives and 
parents of the volunteers, and one dollar per month for each child 
under twelve years of age, dependent on the volunteer for support. 
Provided, That this apply only to such as volunteered and 
entered the service prior to November, 1862, and also that the 
clerk draw warrants for the sum of two dollars per month to the 
wive, and parents of volunteers, and fifty cents per month for each 



301 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

child under twelve years of age dependent upon the volunteers for 
support this to apply to all who entered the service since Novem- 
ber, 1862." 

At the regular session of the board of supervisors in September, 
1865, a resolution was passed; allowing the widows of all deceased 
soldiers to draw the allowance, from the county for six months 
after death of the husband. 

And at a meeting in October of the same year, the following 
resolution appears on the minutes, as having been carried: Re- 
solved, That all who have enlisted and served as privates, in the 
U. S. army, from Chickasaw county during the late war, be placed 
on the same footing, and paid the same monthly wages as by 
resolution of this board is allowed to volunteers who have enlisted 
since January 1st, 1862, excepting such regulars from the benefit 
of this resolution as may have received $300, and upwards, as 
bounty trom the United States. 

SEVENTH IOWA INFANTRY. 

During the heats of the summer of 1861, while the pulse of the 
nation beat with feverish intensity, while all hearts were aching 
with the dread of civil war, and the sound of men flocking to arms, 
in their country's cause, resounded through all the hills and val- 
leys, forests and prairies of this northland; then the spirit of 
Chickasaw county was stirred, and men came forward, with 
alacrity, at the call of the government, for its preservation, com- 
pany B., seventh regiment of Iowa volunteers was raised, and com- 
posed almo8t entirely of the sons of Chickasaw, Capt. Gideon 
Gardner and all the officers being residents of the county. 

The history of the company is nearly always the history of the 
regiment, especially so in infantry, therefore we give an abridged 
account of the movements of the regiment for which we are 
indebted to the official reports. 

"The seventh Iowa infantry was organized at Burlington, Iowa, 
in 1861. The first companies were mustered into the United 
States service on the 24th of July, and the last company, I, was 
mustered in on the 2d day of August. Col. J. G. Lauman was in 
command of the regiment. On the 6th day of August they broke 
camp marched to Burlington under a burning hot sun and em- 
barked on the steamer Jennie Whipple for St. Louis. Arrived at 
St. Louis on the morning of the 8th, and were marched to the 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 302" 

arsenal, where they bivouacked for several days. Moved I'rom 
thence to Jefierson Barracks, where they remained for several 
more days; were then ordered to St. Louis, where the regiment 
was armed, the flank companies with Springfield rifles, and. the 
other eight companies with the improved Springfield muskets. 
The same night they took the cars, and went to Pilot Knob, and 
after remaining there half a day, marched to Ironton, where the 
regiment went into camp and remained there, drilling and getting 
into discipline for tAVO weeks, and were then ordered through 
southeast Missouri to Cape Girardeau. This commenced the first 
campaign of the regiment. The division consisted of six regi- 
ments, and was commanded by Brig. Gen'l. B. M. Prentiss. iVr- 
riving at Jackson, Mo., during the last days of August, the com- 
mand remained one week, then moved to the cape, where tli^y took 
transports, and went to Cairo, and were sent from thence to wliat 
was afterwards known as Fort Holt, Kentucky. The ground was 
covered with a dense forest and under growth, but in a short time 
the camp was cleared up, and policed, and all hands were comfort- 
able. The regiment remained at Holt about two weeks wlien it 
was moved down to Mayfield creek, and established camp Critten- 
den, distant from the Mississippi river about three miles, and from 
Columbus the rebel stronghold, about eight. Here Lieut. Col. 
Wentz reported to the regiment for duty. Remaining but a short 
time at camp Crittenden, the regiment was moved to Fort Jefier- 
son, on the Mississippi, nearly opposite to Norfolk, Mo. 

During their stay at Fort Jefierson they still kept a strong 
picketguard at their old camp Crittenden, at which place the regi- 
ment had its first skirmish, in which one man was slightly' 
wounded. 

On the 6th of November, 1861, the regiment received orders to" 
embark on transports, and about night steamed down the Missis- 
sippi a few miles rounded to, and lay all night at Lucas Bend. 
Early on the morning of the 7th, they got under way and 
landed on the Missouri shore about three miles above Bel- 
mont; disembarking there the troops formed line of battle, and 
proceeded to the attack of the latter place. The seventh Iowa 
and twenty-second Illinois were brigaded together and com- 
manded by Col. Dougherty of the latter regiment. The battle of 
Belmont was a bloody day for the seventh; which went into fight 



303 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

with but eight companies numliering in all 410 men; two com- 
panies, K. and G. being. detailed as fleet guard were not in the 
engagement. The regiment lost, in killed, wounded and missing, 
237 men. It was on this field that the gallant and lamented 
Wentz fell with many other brave officers, viz: G. W. S. Dodge, 
second Lieut, company B.; Benj. Ream, second Lieut, company 
C; Chas. Gardner, second Lieut, company I.; Col. Lauman and 
Major Rice were both severely wounded, as were also Capt. Gard- 
ner, company B.; Capt. Harper, company D.; Capt. Parrott, 
company E.; and Cajjt. Kitteridge, company F. 

It was in this fight that Iowa officers and soldiers proved to the 
world that they were made of ,the right kind of material, and 
added to the lustre of our young and gallant state. 

On the evening of the 7th of November, 1861, the shattered 
remnant of the seventh Iowa arrived at Bird's Point, where they 
remained a few days, and were then ordered to St. Louis, Miss- 
ouri, to rest and recruit. This terminated the first battle -for this 
brave and gallant host of heroes. 

On the 13th of January, 1862, the seventh were embarked at St. 
Louis, on the steamer Continental, and although the weather was 
intensely cold, which detained the boat, finally got under way and 
proceeded down the river about twenty miles; but when that dis- 
tance was reached the floating ice, with which the river was 
filled, blocked the boat with its freight of brave boys in blue and 
was frozen in. Here they staid for two days, until the cold had 
so congealed the ice that it was solid enough, when the regiment 
with its baggage was removed to the shore, and took the railroad, 
and returned to St. Louis. The weather was intensely cold, but 
the good citizens of that city tendered Col. Lauman the use of the 
chamber of commerce to shelter his men in, and the boys found 
comfort in the hot coffee, warm rooms, etc., so generously provided 
by their friends. 

Next morning, the regiment started for Cairo, marching through 
Illinois and after reaching that place moved forward again. After 
a^fatiguing march, interspersed Avith some delays for rest, the regi- 
ment was ordered to go up the Tennessee, with balance of the troops 
to attack Fort Henry. 

Landing on the morning of the 6th, of February, they took up 
the line of march to invest the fort, but learned that Commodore 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 304 

Foote had already taken it before their arrival. After remaining a 
week at the Fort, on the 12th of February, 1862, the march was 
resumed with Fort Donclson as the objective point, which point 
was reached next day. About 5 p. m.., the seventh was ordered to 
the front to support battery H., first Missouri light artillery; and 
spent the night without shelter or blankets. The next day the 
regiment was ordered to take its place with the brigade as that 
was going into action. But after reaching headquarters it was not 
considered advisable to make the charge so the brigade remained 
all day in line of battle until the shades of night gave the neces- 
sary cover for their removal. 

The weather became quite boisterous. A heavy shower of rain 
falling at midnight, but before morning had dawned it had changed 
to snow, and the face of the earth was covered with a wintry 
mantle, and the temperature remaining cold, the men suffered 
much, owing to their exposed positions and general want of 

blankets. 

On the morning of the 15th the skirmishers were deployed, and 

at 2 p. M. the brigade was ordered to charge the rebel works. The 
second Iowa never having been in a fight, having only joined the 
brigade on Friday the 14th, was given the post of honor in leading 
the charge, supported by the balance of the brigade. The seventh 
Iowa moved up to the works in fine style, entered the sally-port, 
and gained, with the second Iowa, a position inside the rebel 
works. Then were ordered to fall back and take shelter on the 
outside of the fortification, where they bivouacked all night with- 
out fires, and suffered much from the inclemency of the weather. 
Next morning, Sunday, February 16th, when the day dawned, the 
white flag from the grim summit of Fort Donelson, told quite 
plainly that the strife for its mastery was ended, and in a short 
time our boys were marching in and taking possession. So fell 
this noted rebel stronghold, and the gallant seventh Iowa claims 
its meed of praise. 

Here the regiment remained for three weeks, and were then 
ordered to proceed up the Tennessee river on transports to Pitts- 
burg Landing. They were nearly a week making the voyage, 
being unable to land, owing to the tempestuous weather. The 
regiment remained in camp until the memorable 6th of April, 
1862, when Beauregard with his host of rebels attacked our whole 
line. ■ . ^ 



305 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

The 7th Iowa was on parade for inspection when the battle com- 
menced, but in a few minutes it was moved to the front, where it 
was engaged the balance cf the day. About four o'clock p. m. the 
whole brigade was ordered to fall back, in which retrograde move- 
ment Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, commanding the division, fell, and 
the 7th lost one officer, color-sergeant, and seven men killed, and a 
number wounded. The regiment was rallied in the edge of the 
timber, and helped stop the advance of the rebels, and a short 
time afterwards fell back to the main road, where the weary troops 
bivouacked for the night, the rain falling in torrents. 

The next morning the whole line advanced on the rebels, and 
before noon they were in full rout. At night the regiment returned 
to the old camp and got a warm supper, the first they had had in 
two days, but were compelled to lie without shelter, the tents 
being occupied by the wounded of both armies. They remained 
in camp here until the 27th of April, when the whole army moved 
to the memorable seige of Corinth. On this march the regiment 
used the shovel for the first time in throwing up works and rifle 
pits, and about the first of June, when contiguous to Corinth, it 
was ascertained that the enemy had evacuated it, and the seventh, 
with the division, was ordered in pursuit of the enemy. After an 
arduous tramp without coming up with them, it returned and 
went into camp near Corinth and remained quiet for the balance 
of the summer, doing picket and guard duty. 

On the 17th the regiment reached luka, having left camp two 
days before, and from Gen. Grant's order No. 1, the division to 
which it was attached, deserves as much credit and praise as the 
troops which were actually engaged. 

Leaving luka the same night, the regiment tramped back to 
their old quarter at Camp Montgomery, where they remained until 
the 3d of October, 1862, when they were ordered to the front to 
meet the forces of Van Dorn and Price. The seventh was on 
hand, and a more gallant fight the men never made. On the 3d 
of October, in the afternoon, Geri. Dains, who commanded the 
division when our weak line was driven back to Fort Robinette, 
placed the seventh Iowa in a position of honor in support of a 
battery, which was then stationed at the above fort. At 8 a. m. 
the next day they were thrown out to support skirmishers, the 
enemy being in strong force in front. The skirmish line fell back, 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 306 

and upon the fact being reported to Gen. Dains, he ordered the 
seventh to take position on their old ground, and but a few 
minutes elapsed before the enemy appeared in their front in vast 
numbers; but thanks to the nerve of Iowa's sons, the second and 
seventh Iowa held the ridge, when there was no support from the 
balance of the division. Gen. Sweeny, who was in command of 
the briga e, gave the order for them to retire a short distance, and in 
his official report made special mention of the two regiments in 
question. 

The seventh Iowa retired about fifty yards, when they were 
rallied and made a charge on the enemy, which put him to flight, 
and the victory was won. Returned next day to Corinth, where 
they remained until the 6th, when they moved to Rienzi, from 
thence to Kossuth, then to Boneyard, where they staid a month, 
then returned to Corinth, where under tents they spent the winter. 
In March, 1863, the regiment went to Bethel, Tenn., where it 
remained until June 1st, when it was returned to Corinth. After 
much such marching and countermarching all summer, they 
arrived November 11, 1863, at Pulaski, Tenn., where they went 
into camp doing escort duty for the various trains of supplies. 

About the 20th of December, 1863, orders were received allowing 
men who had been in the service two years to veteranize, and in a 
few days three-fourths of the men present for duty re-enlisted. 
The regiment started home on the 7th of January, 1864, and were 
furloughed for thirty days from the 20th of January. On the 20th 
of February the boys commenced to rendezvous at Keokuk with 
some two hundred recruits, which were mustered into the regi- 
ment. Left Keokuk February 27th, and proceeded to Prospect, 
Tenn., which point they garrisoned until the 27th of April, when 
they started on the ever-memorable Atlanta campaign. 

This march was one of continual skirmishing and fighting. The 
seventh, upon crossing the Oostanaula river, at Lay's ferry. May 
15th, was thrown to the front to feel the enemy, who were in 
strong force, and but a few minutes sufficed to bring on the deadly 
conflict, which lasted but a few moments, and terminated in the 
complete rout of the rebels, consisting of an entire division com- 
manded by Gen. Walker. The sevmth Iowa did not number 
four hundred muskets, and yet out of this small number it lost 
sixty-five men, killed and wounded, inside of ten minutes. No 



307 HISTORY OP CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

regiment in the United States service ever behaved with more 
gallantry, and it was with difficulty that the men could be drawn 
off from a force five times their number. 

This was the first severe fighting of the campaign, but it con- 
tinued from that time until the first of September, including Rome 
cross-roads, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Nick-a-Jack creek, and in close proximity to Atlanta, in 
all of which the seventh bore an honorable part. On the 22d of 
July, during the engagement in which Gen. McPherson fell, the 
regiment was an active participant, and added new laurels to her 
former bright wreath. 

The regiment moved from the front of Atlanta, and struck the 
West Point railroad, near Palmetto, and from thence to Jonesboro, 
supporting Kilpatrick's cavalry in driving the enemy, and was with 
the command under Gen. Sherman, which compelled Hood to 
evacuate Atlanta. The regiment went by rail from East Point to 
Rome, Ga., where it arrived September 20th. It was then ordered 
to Allatoona on the 4th of October, but did not reach there in time 
to take part in the bloody fray of the 5th. By orders received the 
regiment returned to Rome on the 7th of October, and remained 
until November 11th, when they took up the line of march with 
that dauntless band of heroes, who marched with Sherman from 
Atlanta through the heart of Georgia, and with that matchless 
captain entered the city of Savannah December 21, 1864. 

HISTORY OF THE THIRTY EIGHTH IOWA INFANTRY. 

In the fall of 1862, in response to a call for more troops, made 
by President Lincoln, the county felt its patriotism again aroused, 
and a full company was raised to go to the front. This was in- 
corporated in the 38th Iowa Infantry, and was known as company 
C, and as we before traced the movements of the Chickasaw boys 
by their regiment, we will once again follow their fortunes. 

The regiment was organized at Dubuque, and mustered into the 
United States service November 4, 1862. The aggregate number 
at that date being 910 men. 

In obedience to orders received, the regiment moved from the 
camp of organization December 15, 1862, and arrived at Benton 
barracks, St. Louis, December 17th, by way of the Illinois Central 
railroad. On the 28th they were ordered by Maj. Gen. Curtis, 
commanding the department of the Missouri, to report at Helena> 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 308 

Ark. Embarking on board the steamer Platte Valley, the regi- 
ment proceeded doAvn the river as far as Columbus, Ky., where it 
was stopped on the 30th and ordered by Brig. Gen. Davies, com- 
manding department of Columbus, on an expedition out on the 
Ohio and Mobile railroad, to Union City, under the command of 
Col. Moore, of the twenty-fourth Missouri. On their arrival 
there the next day the forces were drawn up in line of battle to 
receive the enemy, after patiently waiting for it all day, they 
failed to make its appearance. 

January 1, 1863, orders were received from Brig. Gen. Davies for 
the expedition to return to Columbus, where further orders were 
awaiting the regiment from Gen. Curtis, to re-embark on the 
steamer and proceed to New Madrid, Mo.; all orders to the contrary 
countermanded. On the arrival of the thirty-eighth at New 
Madrid, on the 2d, it took possession of Fort Thompson, which 
had been evacuated, magazines blown up, guns spiked and dis- 
mounted, and carriages burned, as also were the barracks. The 
boys, however, went to work, built new barracks, unspiked and 
remounted the guns, and remained at New Madrid doing guard 
duty until June 7th, when, by order of Gen. Curtis, the regiment 
embarked on the steamer Daniel G. Taylor, and proceeded down 
the Mississipjji and up the Yazoo to Sherman's Landing, where 
they arrived on the 11th, and were ordered to report at Young's 
Point, where they arrived the same day. From thence marching 
across the point, and crossing the river at Warrenton on the 15th 
found themselves in front of the enemies' works at Vicksburg, and 
on the extreme left of Grant's army. Here the regiment was 
assigned to the first brigade, second division, thirteenth army 
corps, and were constantly engaged in filling details, supporting 
the first Missouri battery, constructing earthworks, digging rifle- 
pits, and advancing our lines until the glorious 4th of July, when 
the city capitulated. 

Many of the regiment were overcome by the iieat and the ardu- 
ous duty, and the miasma which Avas constantly arising from the 
swamp on whose border the regiment was encamped, was the 
cause of fevers and disorders which arose, and reducejcl it to half 
its original number. Disease thinned the ranks each day while 
the casualties resulting from the siege wei-e slight. 

July 5th, in company with the other troops, it marched into the 



309 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

works, and on the 12th, while embarking for Port Hudson, the 
news was brought of the capture of that place, and the regiment 
ordered up the Yazoo river. 

It was with Gen. Herron at the capture of Yazoo City, and in 
the raid into the country of the Big Black river, from which they 
returned laden with horses, cotton, mules, and negroes. 

Returned to Vicksburg on the 21st, and on the 25th again 
embarked for Port Hudson, La., where it arrived the 27th. At 
this place the regiment was so reduced by sickness, that the 
morning report for August 13th shows only eight officers and 
twenty men fit for duty. Many valuable officers were lost, among 
whom was Col. D. H. Hughes', who died on the steamer Lebanon, 
August 7th. 

August 15th, embarked on the steamer Sally Robinson for 
Carroliton, La., and arrived the following day. While at this 
place many who had been sent up the river sick, or had been left 
in the hospital at Vicksburg, rejoined the regiment, which was 
now again ready for the field, and joined the expedition under 
Gen. Banks against Texas, 

The fleet sailed from New Orleans, October 23, 1863, and after 
experiencing a heavy gulf storm, arrived at Brazos Santiago, 
Texas, November 2d. The regiment with the balance of the com- 
mand was landed on the 3d, and on the 6th moved forward toward 
Brownsville, encamping the same night on the old battle ground 
of Pido Alto. On the 9th the regiment advanced to Brownsville, 
which it found in possession of our forces, to whom it had been 
surrendered without opposition. 

Here the regiment went into camp and continued to do guard 
duty until the evacuation of the place, which took place July 28, 
1864, when it returned to New Orleans. 

Arriving at that port on the 5th of August, the thirty -eighth 
was ordered again to embark on the steamer Josephine, and sailed 
for Mobile bay, arriving at Fort Gaines (which had been taken on 
the 7th), on the 9th, and were landed on Mobile point, in the rear 
of Fort Morgan, the same day. While here the regiment was 
engaged in picket and fatigue duty, until the surrender of Fort 
Morgan, on the morning of the 23d of August. After remaining 
on Mobile Point until September 8th, the regiment was ordered 
back to New Orleans? where it remained for some time. The 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 310. 

regiment was engaged in the last battle of the war, which was the 
taking of Fort Blakely the day before Lee's surrender. The regi- 
ment was mustered out of the service at Houston, Texas, but did 
not disband until its arrival in Davenport. While at Morganzie 
Bend, above New Orleans, the regiment was consolidated with the 
thirty-fourth, but still retained its old number; by this consolida- 
tion some officers were necessarily dispensed with. 

THE FOURTH IOWA CAVALRY. 

Chickasaw county raised a company for this favorite and gallant 
regiment, which was known as company H, and also furnished 
some more men for company B. The regiment was organized with 
A-sbury B. Porter, as colonel; Thos. Drummond, as lieut. col.; 
S. D. Swan, J. E. Jewett, and G. A. Stone, as majors, and was 
mustered into the service of the United States at Mount Pleasant, 
November 21, 1861. 

Of the service performed by the cavalry it is difficult to give a 
connected history, so much of it being done by detached com- 
panies, but this regiment has covered itself with unfading laurels 
throughout its numberless campaigns, distinguishing itself and 
losing men at Guntown, Miss.; Helena, Ark.; Bear Creek, Miss.; 
near Memphis, Tenn.; Town Creek, Miss.; Columbus, Ga.; 
Mechanicsburg, Miss.; Little Blue River, Ark.; Brownsville, Miss. j 
Ripley, Black River Bridge, and Tupelo, Miss.; little Red River^ 
Ark.; Granada, Miss.; Yazoo River, Miss.; White River, Ark.; 
Osage, Kan.; Lick Creek, Ark.; Okalona, Miss., and St. Francis 
River, Ark. After partaking of the hardships of many a weary 
campaign, and suffering the privations and losses attendent on a 
mourrted regiment, it was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., August 
10, 1865, 

ROSTER OF VOLUNTEERS FROM CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Major G. W. Howard, Lieut. G. J. Tisdale, 

Captain Gideon Gardner, Lieut. Albert E. Rupe, 

Captain J. H. Powers, Lieut. John A. Green, 

Captain H. C. Baldwin, Lieut. F. W. Barron, 

Captain D. E. Bronson, Lieut. Geo. Dodge, 

Captain S. S. Troy, Lieut. F. D. Bosworth, 

Captain C. W. Foster, Lieut. E. A. Haskill, 



311 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



Captain D. McTaggart, 
Captain J). C. Crawford, 
Lieut. W. W. Birdsall, 
Lieut. Chas. Trout, 



Lieut. J. A. Albertson, 
Lieut. R. W. Foster, 
Lieut. 0. 0. Poppleton, 
Asst. Surg. S. C. Haynes. 

non-commissioned officers and 



The following is a list of the 
privates as far as can be gathered from the reports of the State 
Adjutant General. It has been found almost impossible to pre- 
pare a complete list at this day, but no pains have been spared to 
make as full a report as possible. 

THIRD INFANTRY. 

George IV. Stocks. 

SEVENTH INFANTRY — CO. B. 



Dudley L. Campbell, 
Gilbert J. Tisdale, 
Dan. McTaggart, 
Wm. W. Birdsall, 
Andy J. Felt, 
Geo. S. Arnold, 
Geo. Morse, 
0. A. Holmes, 
H. S. Wisner, 
Geo. Pease, 

C. J. Channer, 
F. Albertson, 
J. B. Bailey, 
Zelotes Bailey, 
Frank Birdwell, 
H. Bean, 

L. L. Bean, 
Z. Z. Bryant, 
Levi Carkin, 
Allen Case, 

D. H. Shannon, 

E. J. Taylor, 
J no. Thomas, 
Wm. Tannehill, 
Jeff. Thomas, 
Jno. Morse, 



D. Campbell, 
Irving M. Fisher, 
C. M. Fisher, 

C. W. Foster, 

E. A. Haskell, 

F. M. Hurley, ^ 
T. Horton, 

Jas. R. Howard, 
Benj. E. Morton, 
A. H. Morton, 
Jno. McGee, 
R. H. Mills, 
Henry W. Montrose, 
Meltiah Nye, 
Wm. Nurman, 
Burton H. Poppleton, 
Julius H. Powers, 
Thos. E. Rollins, 
Josiah A. Rutherford, 
Horatio P. Smith. 
E. M. Thayer, 
C. F. Palmester, 
A. G. Strong, 
W. H. Mills, 
0. 0. Poppleton, 
Chas. J. Channer. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 312 

NINTH INFANTRY — CO. E. 

David VanKleick, G. J. Tisclale. 

CO. F. 

D. L. Benedict, Myron R. Benedict. 

CO. H. 

Wm. Everinghani. 

CO. I. 

A. C. Johnston, Jno. Williams, 

Geo. W. Johnston, Isaac Demott, 

Jno. W. Stuart. Sam. Sutton. 

THIRTEENTH INFANTRY — UNASSIGNED. 

G. C. Reed, A. J. Allen, 

Jno. Welsh, F. M. Drake. 

FOURTEENTH INFANTRY — CO. B. 

Thos. R. Boyce, Chas. Bird. 

L. P. Hawley. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY — CO. G. 

Jno. E. Beitler, Richard Bean, 

Frank McConnell, Sylvester Bement, 

Wm. Dyas, W. F. Clark, 

Robt. Beck, N. W. Cotton, 

Chas. Victor, D. J. Caswell, 

Jno. McConnell, . Albert Cuffell, 

Newel Helms, J. S. Dowd, 



Amos F. Ripley, Jno. Felcher, 

L. S. BuUard, B. G. Feeney, 

Geo. W. Bean, Henry Greineisen, 

Jacob Beck, Chas. Hickok, 

E. W. Hall, D. Hall. 

John Harris, Alex. Jones, 

B. R. Horton, E. Ludden, 

Byron Hovey, John McConnell, 

J« W. Pratt, J. Morris, 

Smiley Sample, Warren Parrish, 

Geo. Wood, Benj. Parker, 
Jno. Rowe. 

THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY — CO. G. 

Jas. M. Jackson, Z. H. Morton, 



313 



HISTOKY OP CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



D. D. Beynolds, 



L. H. Yeager. 



John Pullar, 
C. W. Sherman, 

THIRTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. 

Sergent Major, C. W. Foster. 

CO. A. 

Culman Kelley, 
CO. c. 



James N. Kerr, 
F. D. Barron, 
T. D. Cotant, 
F. Loveless, 
Henry L. Sholts, 
H. B. Trask, 
0. H. Clause, 
C. E. Tyler, 
A. B. Legg, 

C, H. Rogers, 
Wm. Johnson, 
Geo. Strong, 
James A. Glass, 
H. H. Hufiman, 
Ozro Hill, 
Jacob Horning, 
Wm. W. Hawkins, 

D. Henderson, 
M. B. Johnson, 
Henry F. Steindroph, 
S. W. Byers, 

F. M. Ajjpleberry, 
Zenas Bigelow, 
Geo. W. Beach, 
Alvin A, Brown, 
H. Baker, Jr. 
A. M. Coffinger, 
Wm. Cotant, 
W. A. Cole, 
Richmond Carkins, 
Benj. Carter, 
D. F. Culver, 



Jethro Jones, 
Henry Kepler, 
Samuel Kephart, 
C. 0. Kingsberry,- 
R. W. Kidder, 
J. A. King, 
J. D. Keith, 

E. G. Miller, Jr., 
Luke Milmine, 
T. E. Mills, 

J. H. Parsons, 
H. H. Parks, 
Chas. S. Parks, 
M. C. Roby, 
W. C. Rembaugh, 
John Roe, 
Henry Shoemaker,, 
Geo. Strong, 

F. F. Still, 
Chas. P. Snow, 

G. W. Simpson, 
G. C. Scripture, 
W. H. Stone, 
Jos. Stutton, Jr., 
Chas. Stowell, 
Josiah Spencer, 
Allen Vaughn, 
N. Vaughn, 

A. Vantassell, 
John G. Wright, 
S. A. Wood, 
Abram Wortendyke,, 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



314 



O. J. Clapper, 
Jos. Dupas, 
John Dayton, 
Geo. Demiston, 
E. H. Ellis, 
Geo. Forsman, 
L. Fairbanks, 



J. Weiler, 
John C. Whittier, 
T. W. Williams, 
Alonzo Wheeler, 
Allen Wheeler, 
L. Yeager, 
Albert Slater, 



CO. F. 

Jacob Rush. 

FORTY-FIRST INFANTRY — CO. B. 



Jno. W. Dixon, 



Jos. Dixon. 



SECOND CAVALRY — CO. I. 



Howard Weikle 
Jesse Weikle, 



Fred Young, 
Peter Young. 

FOURTH CAVALRY. 

E. A. Haskell, 3d Brig. Q. M. 

CO. B. 



Andw. Bray, 
Thomas Legg, 
W. G. McDonald, 

Stephen W. Grosbeak, 
Seth Martin, 

D. A. Babcock, 

E. W. Beach, 
Norman A. Chapell, 
T. W. Robb, 

A. R. Toms, 
Geo.W. Miller, 
Wm. Doyle, 
Oreites Wilcox, 
D. Campbell, 
N. J. Watson, 
W. Reardon, 
J. H. Stocks, 
Jas. Albertson, 
S. M. Legg, 
Jas. Miller, 



CO. H. 



George Miller, 
Milo S. Pelton, 
Levi M. Smith. 

Chas. W. Session, 
Jas. Rooney, 
Henry K. Martin, 
Geo. Patrick, 
Jas.. Arnott, 
A. J. Bray, 
C. A. Baldwin, 
Martin Bigger, 
Lewis Choate, 
F. A. Coe, 
H. A. Cornet, 
And'w Gibson, 
Adin B. Harris, 
L. H. Huffman, 
Zenas Thomas, 
H. K. Thomas, 
Thos Legg, 



815 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 



Geo. Miller, 
C. K. Miller, 
M. S. Pelton, 
Oliver Pelton, 
L. Patrick, 
Amos C. Rowley. 

M. E. D. Witted, 
Jerome Bourcey, 
J. H. Brown, 
J. F. M. Clark, 
V. A. Fuller, 

Francis Burdick, 
Geo. Hawkins, 
R. L. Bean, 
Daniel Blorhan, 
M. Hinchy, 
W. McNoble, 

Ambrose Legg, 



C. P. Campbell, 
F. K Coe, 
AncTw Laird, 
Jas. Miller, 
E. W. Swift, 
Chas. Ready. 



SIXTH CAVALRY — CO. B. 



CO. 



M. V. Marion, 
T. H. Merritt, 
Frank Stephenson, 
Wm. F. Tucker, 
M. S. Whitney. 

M. Nolan, 
Fred Padden, 
J. R. Stephenson, 
C. H. Starboard, 
S. H. Todd. 



CO. L. 



L. Phillips. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Lucius Bemet, 14th U. S. Regulars. 
Morgan A. Hance, 1st Nebraska Cavalry. 




HISTOBY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 316 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Record of Events Occurring in the County From the Earliest 
Time to the Present Time Chronologically Arranged. 



This chapter is largely devoted to a brief review or chronology 
of prominent events in the history of the county, bringing them 
down to the present; omitting, however, the records of elections, 
and the officers elected each year, as they are given elsewhere. 

1836. 
About this year a trading post was established, by the govera- 
ment, at or near where the town of Bradford now stands. 

1840. 
Land broke and fenced at the forks of the Cedar river for 
Indians to cultivate; the government treating it as a reservation. 

J 847. 
Reported massacre of women and children, belonging to a large 
party of Sioux Indians, by a land of Winnebagoes on the warpath. 
This was in Deerfield township as now known. 

1848. 
Truman Merritt, the first white man to make a settlement within 
the boundaries of the county, located near the Cedar river, in the 
southwestern part of the county. 



317 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

1850. ' 

First white child born in the county, being a daughter of 
Truman Merritt. 

T. G. Staples made the first settlement in what is now known 
as Stapleton township. 

Terrence Cummerford, first man to locate in Utica township. 

1851. 
First male white child born within the limits of the county, 
Elmer Case, at Greenwood. 
John and J. A. J. Bird and others settled at Bradford village. 

1852. 
First school at village of Bradford and the first one in the county. 
James Lyon, afterwards the first county judge, located in what 
is now Utica township. 

1853. 

During this year the first attempt was made towards organizing 
the county and an election was held, but John Bird, organizing 
sheriff, for some reason withheld all returns and it was a failure. 

The first settlement made in what is now Chickasaw township 
by Williamand Joel Bartlett, Jos. Lee, L. D. Hoisington, Samuel 
Moru'oe, James L. Frazee, and others. ' 

Henry Shaffer located in the township of Jacksonville, being the 
first to do so within its limits. 

The first sermon was preached during the year by Mr. Ingam 
at the house of John Bird at villiage of Bradford. 

The first store in the county was also opened this year at the 
same place by J. A. J. Bird. 

The first marriage license was granted to Joseph Aving and Eliza- 
beth Jarrard, September 5. 

1854. 

County organized, with but one election precinct, called Bradford, 
May 3rd. 

First license to peddle issued to L. E. Hackleton, Feb. 10, by 
the county court. 

Commissioners, appointed for that purpose, locate the county seat 
at Bradford village. 

First court house built the same year, being a log house, with- 
out ceiling. 

Andy Sample, built the first saw mill and George Bronson the 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 318 

first hotel in the county, both these at Bradford, where alone there 
was any settlement to amount to much. William Dow, who has 
the honor to be the first blacksmith also located this year. 

The town of Chickasaw surveyed and platted, and the sawmill 
at that place erected, this year, as was also the school organized and 
taught by Miss Jane Billings. 

September 1st, Frederick Padden, located at Fredericksburg,being 
the first settler in that township Samuel Marsh and others follow- 
ing in this same year. 

The first settlement was made in Deerfield township, this year, 
by Almon Harris, John and My rick Spurr, Edwin Hale and others, 
in May. 

Hazard Green, one of the most prominent men of the early days, 
first settled in Jacksonville township, this year, and built the first 
building, in what was in later times the village of Jacksonville. 
He was afterwards hotel keeper, justice of the peace, postmaster 
and sundry other things. 

The first tax levy was made this year also. 

At Nashua, in Bradford township, the first settlement is recorded 
as occuring this year. 

Wm. Millikan located in Dayton township, and established on 
an island in the "Wapsie," a cabin known far and wide as the 
"hunter's home;" this, with the location of a man by the name of 
Smith, was the first attempt at settlement in that township. 

The first settlers in Richland township are recorded as coming 
in this year also, among them we find the names of J. B. Upham, 
Joel Parsons, and David Tingley. 

1855. 

It is recorded that the first church society organized in the 
county, was of the Congregational denomination, and was estab- 
lished under the ministrations of Rev. 0. Littlefield during 
this year. 

William Tucker opened the first store in the village of Chicka- 
saw, in the spring, and the grist mill and a steam saw mill was 
erected during the summer of the year. 

At Jacksonville, in the township of the same name, this year, 
was established the first store in the town, as was the postofiice. 

The first settlement in Washington township dates from this 
year, as does that of the town of New Hampton, the first house in 



319 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

the latter being a small board building, owned by David Edwards. 
The first store by Jacobs & Ross. 

The township of Obispo was organized and an attempt made to- 
do the same in Washington, but was 9 failure, being set aside for 
informality. 

Dr. S. C. Haynes, the first physician in the county, also located 
this year, at Greenwood. 

During this year, at Fredericksburg, Rev. S. M. Prentiss, a 
Baptist clergyman preached the first serman. The first hotel and 
store were also erected at the same place. The following named 
persons also began to carry on their respective business at the 
village of Fredericksburg, this year, viz: Emory Combs, black- 
smith; J. V. Carpenter, shoemaker; George Hillson, wagonmaker. 

Postoffice established this year at New Hampton. Osgood 
Gowan, postmaster. 

H. Bartlett, the first child born in Chickasaw township, dates 
his advent from this year. 

The township of Chickasaw was organized 

1856 

June, Rosa Padden, the first child in the township of Fredericks- 
burg, was born. The town was also laid out, this year, by Fred- 
erick Padden and Daniel Bloxham. In the same township occurs 
the following events, this year: Steam saw mill erected ; Methodist 
society organized, and the postoffice established at the "Burg," 
with F. Padden, as postmaster. 

First election takes place since organization of county, and 296 
votes cast. There was also a special election this year in aid of 
the McGregor, St. Paul & Miss, railroad, the vote being by a large 
majority in favor of such aid. 

This year the county divided into various election precincts, and 
Deerfield and Richland townships were organized. 

With this year the county seat question comes to the front. In 
February a petition was presented to the county court, asking that 
a vote be taken, at the next election, on the location of the county 
seat, as between Bradford and New Hampton. The petition was 
granted, and at the April election the question was submitted to 
the voters, and decided in favor of Bradford, by the board of can- 
vassers throwing out the vote of Washington township and ten 
votes in Deerfield, for alleged informity. This led to lawsuits,. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 320 

etc., but was finally settled in favor of New Hampton, that being 
the geographical centre of the county. 

During the year "Brinks Folly" was erected; this was a large 
hotel, far in advance of the town, built at Bradford. 

Deerfield township was organized April 7th of this year; W. F, 
Wright, organizing constable. 

The first school in the town of Jacksonville was established by 
a party named Cole,, and the village laid out and platted in 
March. 

Miss Maggie Nichols teaches the first school in Nashua. Also 
the first store, in the same place, established, being that of Smiley 
Sample. 

1857. 

This was a hard year on the early settlers, and is now remem- 
bered by them as "starvation year," many subsisting all winter on 
soft corn. 

In May the Jacksonville Republican, the first newspaper in the 
county, was established. This was followed, the next week, by 
the Cedar Valley News. The first was edited by Isaac Watson, 
and the latter by Andy J. Felt. In November of the same year, 
was formed a stock company, known as the Chickasaw County 
Republican Association, who i^urchased the Jacksonville paper of 
Watson, and changed the name of it to The Chickasaw County 
Republican. 

The first agricultural society of the county was organized this 
year. This was a failuare and finally collapsed. 

During this year we find the first mention of the tovrn of 
Nashua on the records of the county judge. 

An election held in aid of the Chicago, Iowa & Minnesota rail- 
road results in a majority in favor of such aid of said road, being 
309 for and 216 against it. 

Washington, Dayton, New Hampton, and Fredericksburg town- 
ships organized. 

The first kiln of brick burned and first brick building erected 
in the county, being some out building on the place of Hiram 
Bailey, at Forest City. 

A party by the name of Montgomery erects the first hotel in 
Nashua, and Andy SamjDle erects the first grist mill a* the same 
place. 



321 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

Saw mill at Fredericksburg destroyed by fire. 

The following are among the events happening in the township 
of Fredericksburg, this year: First school opened by Miss Anna 
Bishop; the first marriage was celebrated, being that of Charles 
Zwick; D. B. Hanan locates as attorney; Julien house built. 

Plat of New Hampton is recorded this year, and recites that 
Gideon Gardner, H. Hamlin, David Edwards, H. Gurley, and E. 
T. Runion were the original proprietors thereof. 

Jno. Nicholas erects first store in Stapleton township, near Crane 
creek, and the township of Stapleton organized. 

1858. 
April 5th a vote was taken on the county seat question, as 
between New Hampton and Forest City. On account of alleged 
informality in some votes in Deerfield, and the board throwing 
■out the entire vote of Washington township. Forest City is decided 
to have had the matter adjudged in its favor, and court adjourned 
to that place. The matter was taken to the courts, and the next 
year decision Avas given that New Hampton was entitled to the 
distinction qf being the seat of the county government. 

In many pavts of the country the crops were lost, this year, by 
entailing much misery. 

Utica and Jacksonville townships organized in March of this 
year. 

By a vote of the count}' the aid in favor of the McGregor, St. 
Peter & Miss, river railroad was rescinded in April. 

February 8th the Congregational church, at New Hampton, Avas 
organized under the name of the Pilgrim Church of New Hampton. 
Sawmill, at Fredericksburg, rebuilt. 

Dr. Mack, the first physician in the latter town, locates. 

1859. 

The county seat relocated at New Hampton, where it has re- 
mained ever sin'ce. 

During this year was erected at tha village of Bradford the Con- 
gregational church, well knoAvn everywhere as the "Little Brown 
Church." This was the first church edifice, properly so called, in 
the county, and stands, to-day, a monument of early days. J. R. 
Nutting was the first pastor. 

Dresden townshi]) was organized this year. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 322 

1860. 

This year was made eventful by the first issue of the New 
Hampton Courier, a paper that still survives the vissitucles of 
a newspaper life. 

In April was organized the agricultural society of Chickasaw 
county, at New Hampton, and in September 27th and 28th was 
held the first exhibition of the same. This was a success, and 
the society still is in existence and maintains a healthy organi- 
zation. 

Baptist church, at Fredericksburg, organized, with Rev. E. G. 
Groat as pastor, as was the Presbyterian mission, of the same 
place, with Rev. L. R. Lockwood as minister. 

First board of supervisors meet. The tocsin of war having 
resounded throughout the land, and the President of the United 
States having called for men to put down the rebellion that 
threatened the life of the government, the board pass a resolution, 
granting to all volunteers from the county a bounty and support 
for those dependent upon them, who are left to the tender mercies 
of the world. 

In June, of this year, is raised a full company in the county, 
under the command of Captain Gideon Gardner, and which was 
incorporated in the famous seventh Iowa infantry regiment, «and 
known as company "B." 

In November was also raised a full company, which was attached 
to the fourth Iowa cavalry, and known as company "H." Besides 
these many men were enlisted in the county for various 
other regiments. 

New Hamj)ton cemetery association organized. 

October, company "C," thirty-eighth I^a infantry, was raised 
in the county and went to the front. 

Saw mill, at Fredericksburg, destroyed by fire for the second 
time. 

1863. 
During the year the congregational church, at New Hampton, 
was erected. The noted Philadelphia banker. Jay Cooke, donating 
the sum of five hundred dollars in aid of the same. 

1864. 

Mary Case, appointed deputy clerk, being the first instance in 
the county of a woman's right to public 9fiice. 



323 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

October 3d the first teachere institute held. 

1865. 

The Congregational church, incorporated under the laws of the 
state of Iowa. 

Gideon Gardner, donates the land, in New Hampton, on which 
to build a court house for the use of the county. The contract 
to erect the building, was let to J. H. Powers, June 6th, and was 
to cost $2,986.00. 

Cornet band, at Fredericksburg, organized. 

The present school house, at the same place, erected. 

1866. 

During the year, a committee appointed, by the board of super- 
visors, to let a contract, to build the bridge over Cedar river, at 
Nashua; and to oversee the work on the same. 

1867. 

The committee, appointed by the board, report that they have 
let the contract, to build the bridge at Nashua, to A. Spaulding, 
and that he has complied with the terms thereof, and said bridge 
is completed. 

The school house at New Hampton, erected. 

The city of Nashua incorporated, under the laws of the state of 
Iowa. 
W. S. Pitts, M. D., locates in village of Fredericksburg. 

1868. 

During the summer of this year, the first railroad broke ground 
within the limits of the county. This was the Cedar Valley 
and Minnesota railroad,, which entered the town of Nashua in 
July. It is now known as the Cedar Valley branch of the Illinois 
Central railroad. 

Meeting held in Stapleton township, November 14th, appoint a 
committee to wait upon the officers of the Milwaukee and St. 
Paul railroad, approaching the boundary of the county, to 
ask upon what terms they would put a station at or near Crane 
Creek. 

The fires settlement at the town of Lawler, dates from this year 
also. 

Rosenbaum Brothers, start a bank in Nashua, the first in the 
county. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 324 

1869. 
In the early summer the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad broke 
the ground of Chickasaw county, and located the station at Lawler 
(or as it was at first called, Crane creek station.) This road was 
then known as the McGregor and Sioux City, but was shortly 
after absorbed into the present company, and known as the 
Iowa and Dakota divison of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul 
railway. The settlement of the town of Lawler really dates from 
this year. The first postoffice was also established with J. A. 
Green as postmaster. 

August 13, Arcana Lodge No. 274, A. F. and A. M. instituted at 
New Hampton. 

1870. 

The Chickasaw county bank, organized in January, this year. 

The town of Lawler, was incorporated, with J. W. VanAuken, 
as mayor. Bryan J. Castle, also established the Lawler Gazette, 
which however, was of short life as it only run about a year. 

Methodist church at Fredericksburg erected, and John H. Kil- 
ler's saloon at same place destroyed by fire. 

1871. 
Congregational and Catholic churches, of Lawler, organized. 
Also the German Lutheran church at New Hampton organized, 
in March of this year. 

Independent school district of Fredericksburg organized. 

1872. 

The poor farm purchased, by the county, of Don A. Jackson, 
for the sum of $3,200, being 160 acres of land, and contract 
awarded A. W. Utter, New Hampton, to erect the necessary build- 
ings, for the accomodation of the destitute. 

Several churches erected during the year; notably, the Catholic 
and Congregational, at Lawler, and the Methodist at New Hamp- 
ton. 

J. V. Carpenter's residence, at Fredericksburg, burned in the 
spring the year. 

1873. 

Town of New Hampton incorporated, and first city election 
takes place May 21st. 

Roman Catholic church at Nashua organized, and Catholic 
cemetery at New Hampton, established. 



325 HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 

1874. 
German Congregational church, at New Hampton, organized. 
Mount Horeb Lodge, 333, A. F. and A. M. at village of Freder- 
icksburg, established. 

1875. 
Chickasaw County Times, a weekly newspaper, started at Lawler, 
by F. M. Haislet, now owner of the New Hampton Tribune. 
Cheese factory at Fredericksburg established. 

1876. 
There being some irregularity in the pievious incorporation 
of the town of Lawler, a new act of incorperation was past this 
year. 

September 2nd, a lodge of workmen organized, at New Hamp- 
ton. 

1877. 

This year is marked by the big fire at I^awler, that wiped 
out nearly the entire business portion of the community. It de- 
stroyed, the Times office, the stores of Green and Lynch, E. A. 
Ervin, Miss E. Lawrence, J. Fitzsimmons, F. Clarkin, W. M. 
O'Brien, P. O'Reilly, John Nicholas, Lovejoy and McFarland, Mrs. 
M. F. Binns, Genshaw and Co., J. N. Baker and Co., the saloons 
of Fitsimmons Bros., and John Doyle, the Lawler litrary, law lit- 
rary of D. West, the butcher shop of J. A. Real, five grain ware- 
houses and numerous other building, and property, aggregating in 
value $83,500 on which there were was an insurance of only 
$56,450. 

The Episcopal church, at New Hampton, was organized July 
30th. 

Conflagration at Fredickersburg, destroying the buildings and 
stocks of Padden Bros., Mrs. Howe and Mrs. Stone, and A. Smith. 

1878. 

John Kolthoff starts the cheese factory, in Dresden township. 

New church erected in Nashua, by the Methodist denomina- 
tion, the finest religious edifice in the county. 

Lawler Oddfellows organize a lodge. 

1879. 

Smith and Darrow, organize a banking office at New Hamp- 
ton. 



HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY. 326 

Again fire devastates the town of Lawler, burning McNevins, 
saloon, R. D. Parker's store King's hotel, Exchange bank and the 
barber shop. The loss was about seven or eight thousand dollars, 
but the people whose property was thus destroyed, were not dis- 
couraged, but went to work with a will and almost before the fire 
had died out, were making arrangements to continue their busi- 
ness. 

First National bank of Nashua organize, with A. G. Case as pres- 
ident, and A. J. Felt, cashier. 

1880. 

Court house at New Hampton destroyed by fire, supposed to 
. have had an incendiary origin. This necessitated a new court 
Jaouse and on this issue hinged the contest for the county seat of 
this year. Nashua, offering to build a court house and loan it to 
county for as long as they occupied it for that jDurpose, but New 
Hampton merchants, and business men generally, accepthig the 
situation, donated to the county of ^5,000 toward a building. 
This, together with the influence of a remonstrance, signed by a 
majority of the voters of the county, induced the board of super- 
visors, to relocate the seat of county government at New Hamp- 
ton and build the present elegant and commodious building which 
graces the city. 

1881. 

Again fire visits the apparently doomed city of Lawler, devouring 
the stores of H. S. Blackett, G. Miller, A. Bechelt, A. P. Johnson, 
P. O'Reiley and many other buildings, making a loss of about 
$55,000, of which but a small portion is covered by insurance. 

School house, at New Hampton, is also burned during the 
spring. 

During the year, the Methodist Episcopal church, at Williams- 
town, is erected. 

This being a good year for fires, the Dixon house, one of the 
oldest hotels in New Hampton is destroyed by flames. 

First National bank at New Hampton, was organized December 
15th. 

1882. 

Vote on the amendment, to prohibit the manufacture or sale of 
intoxicating liqour, in the state results as follows: 1382 for the 
adoption of the amendment and 1068 against adoption. 



327 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



HISTORY OF HOWAED COUBTY. 



CHAPTER I. 



Introductory; Geography; Geology; Recources; Early Settle- 
ment; Names of Settlers, and Date of Location; Early 
Mills, Churches, Stores, Schools, Postoffices, Etc.; First 
Births, Marriages, Court, and Newspapers. 



From the early days, when the adventurer, seeking his future in 
this new world, landed, on the sunny shores of Virginia, when the 
rigid puritan, in search of the religious liberty so dear to him, 
moored his bark on New England's bleak and inhospitable coast, 
the searcher after wealth or liberty has been pushing westward, 
ever westward, overflowing the eastern and middle states, deluging 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, until the great tide of emigration, which is 
still pressing on, toward the setting sun, reached our own fair 
state. In 1854 quite a number came into the land, now known as 
Howard county, then an unbroken wilderness, emerald prairie, 
majestic groves, and smiling water courses — all in primeval loveli- 
ness — blest their sight; but few white men's feet had pressed its 
sod, and the habitations of man was represented by the skin 
wigwam of the Indian, or the rude shanty of the few hunters or 
trappers that infested the streams. Among those whose names 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 328 

are mentioned as among the earliest settlers of the county, how 
many still are with us? Alas, there number is small and diminish- 
ing every day. Many removed from the county ere many years 
had flown, others followed from year 1^ year in hopes to better 
their condition in other localities; others have passed to the 
"shining shore" of the beautiful river, while others still linger in 
the homes, among us, that they have reared by their industry and 
perseverance on these beautiful prairies of Howard county. 

What changes the intervening years have ^brought! These wild 
glades and grassy meads have been converted into magnificent 
farms, gardens of beauty, comparatively speaking. The rude 
habitations of the barbarian and semi-civilized has given place to the 
substantial farmhouse and palatial dwelling. The camping ground 
of the Winnebago, Sac, Fox, and kindred tribes of red men, are 
now occupied by cities, towns, and villages; zig-zag trails are 
superceded by broad roads, and fine bridges span the streams 
where once the bark canoe was the only means of transport from 
shore to shore. 

Howard county is in the extreme northern tier of counties, and 
the third west from the Mississippi river, and is bounded on the 
east by Winnesheik county, on the south by the county of 
Chickasaw, west by Mitchell and on the north by the state of 
Minnesota. 

In speaking of the surface, soil, timber, and geological forma- 
tion, Andreas' Atlas, says: 

"This is chiefly a prairie county. The surface is undulating, 
and the elevation such that it is healthful and agreeable, while the 
landscape is beautiful and pleasing in any direction the observer 
may choose to look. All the rough land lies in the northeastern 
part, Albion township. No county in Iowa presents, in propor- 
tion to its size, less waste land than Howard. 

The soil is very uniform; it is a black loam, with clay sub-soil. 
In some places the loam reaches to the underlying limestone 
formation. In point of productive worth it can not be excelled, 
and all grains, grasses, and cereals common to highly valuable 
agricultural districts, succeed well. 

The timber region embraces a small proportion of Howard 
county, probably one-twelfth. A large proportion of this is young 
timber of difierent varieties, but chiefly oak and poplar, but small 



329 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

bodies of burr oak may be found about the county at various 
points, skirting the rich prairies. There is also considerable 
timber along the western Wapsipinicon, and in places along the 
other streams. 

The rock basis of Howard county, in the northeast corner, 
belongs to the Lower Silurian age. On the southwest nearly one- 
half its area lies within the Devonian region. The intervening 
space is that of the Niagara limestone of the Upper Silurian age. 
There are frequent exposures of rock along nearly all the streams, 
furnishing good quarries of excellent building stone and lime." 

The Wapsipinicon floAvs through the county, while the Little 
Wapsipinicon rises within the limits of the county. The deriva- 
tion of the name is Indian, and there seems to be some question 
as to the exact meaning, but on the authority of Antoine Le Claire,. 
of Davenport, one of the best Indian linguists of his day, it is a 
corruption of Wau-bis-e-pin-e-ka, and translated, would be Waubis, 
white; pineka, potato; so that, if rendered into English, it would 
be the White Potato river. 

The Upper Iowa river, the largest stream in the county, pursues a 
winding course, running through the northern tiers of townships 
in a general easterly direction. The headwaters of the Turkey 
river is near the center of the county in the township of Howard) 
Center, aud Paris. Crane creek waters a large part of the county, 
flowing in a southeasterly course, rising in Jamestown township, 
and traversing the entire county. The Upper Iowa affords a very 
excellent water power, which is improved to a considerable extent. 
These streams, with their numerous affiuents, well supjjly the 
county with never-failing water — the dryest season failing to 
produce a lack of that necessity. 

The natural resources of the county are great, but the loss of the 
wheat crop of 1878 has paralyzed the energies of many farmers, 
and business seems to stagnate, but under the judicious manage- 
ment of tlie present the outlook is good, and we may soon see 
Howard take the place among the counties which it should hold — 
that of a leader. The farming community have seen the folly of 
sticking to the raising of wheat alone, and the fine herds of cattle 
and droves of swine testify to the increasing prosperity of the 
people. 

The first white man tha{ we have any record of, that inhabited 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 330 

this county, is said, by reliable tradition, to have been one Hiram 
Johnson, of whom it is told that he erected a cabin and settled 
near Oregon Grove, but as he never broke up or cultivated any 
land, but subsisted by hunting and fishing; the old settlers dis- 
claim all right of his to be considered in the light of one of them- 
selves. The date of his location was December, 1851. But the 
actual pre-emptors, as they were called, did not attempt anything 
until sirring of 1853, when the tide of emigration first cast its 
ripples this way; we give below the list of all the early settlers, 
whose names we could learn with the year of their inc(miing. 
Many more were there, but time has wrapj^ed their names in his 
oblivious mantle, and it is impossible to find any record of them. 
Those who first located in 

1853, 

were Henry Brown, in May, in Oakdale; Daniel Crowell and 
Andrew Nelson, in the spring, in Albion; Wm. Cottrell, Thos. 
Lewis, H. Shuttleworth, and Wm. Brown, at New Oregon; Owen 
Sprague, Wm. Harlow, Thos. Fitzgerald, Thos: Granathan, and 
" — Noonan, at Vernon Springs. 

1854. 

S. M. Col5, George Schofield, J. F. Mitchell, Jas. G. Upton, E. 
Gillett, M. G. Goss, M. L. Goss, M. L. Shook, H. Blodgett, J. M. 
Fields, Thos. Lewis, and C. M. Munson, in Vernon Springs town- 
ship; R. S. Buckminster, A. D. C. and Jos. Knowlton, Jno. Adam, 
R. E. Bassett, Benj. and Geo. Gardner, Oscar Cheseboro, and the 
three Mertimers in Forest City township; Jared Sigler and Chas. 
Salmon, in Saratoga; C. S. Thurber, and L. Aspinall, in Albion; 
A. Pooler, Jos. Hall, Lemuel Potter, Martin Boardman, Edward 
Butters and W. P. Hough, in Afton; W. S. Pettibone, in Howard; 
Robt. Jerod, Josiah Laws, 0. M. Thayer, M. Gates, in Oakdale; A. 
W. Kingsley, Norman Freeman, C. M. Sawyer, in Chester. 

1855. 

Thos. Griffin and Patrick Richards, in Paris; Joseph Daniels, S. 
L. Cary and G. M. Van Leuvan, in Forest City, Augustus Beadle, 
in Vernon Springs; Oliver Arnold, Thos. Osborne, H. D. Lapham, 
and W. D. Darrow, in Albion; Royal 0. Thayer, Alfred Eldridge, 
W. E. Thayer, Ira Eldridge, Michael Creamer, Patrick Mullen, and 
Aseph Webster, in Howard Center township. 



331 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. , 

C. D. Cutting, Geo. Edward, Stephen and Albert Tuples, Ed- 
ward Irish, Samuel Hallett, Willis Spencer, David Patterson, 
Thos. DeMoss, L. Fassett, Wm. and Dennis Rice, James E. Bennett, 
James A. Cutting, D. P. Bradford, John Moffitt, Lyman Southard, 
Milo S. Torsey, Hazen Ricker, John Fiefield, Asel Wilmot, and 
Luther Titeum, in the present township of Jamestown. 

1856. 

J. S. Sturgis, in Paris; Wm. Conery, Jno. F. Thayer, W. A. and 
Calvin F. Webster, Henry A. Cook, Laban Hassett, and Lawrence 
Long, in Howard Center; and Darius and Smith Seeley in the 
same. 

One of the first locations, chpsen by the pioneers and a favorite 
one for many years, was at "Oregon Grove," as it was called, 
now known as New Oregon and Vernon Springs; here in 
the fine timber on the Turkey river, the early settler pitched 
his tent, rearing his humble log cabin and breaking the sod put in 
his little crop; here he first essayed to wring from the reluctant 
earth the living for himself and family, which was his only ambi- 
tion; not knowing that he was planting the germs of the civiliza- 
tion that has borne such grand fruit in these later days. Although 
but thirty years have elapsed since the plough first broke the 
grassy covering of mother earth in the county, since the first cabin 
was erected within its boundaries; it has grown with a mighty 
growth in spite of many adverse circumstances, until it has be- 
came a garden spot; teeming with rich and fertile farms. 

Of its natural resources and present status it may be said, that 
there is no swamp or waste lands in the county, and over 90 per 
cent, of the lands are improved, that is to say, the land is broken up 
and some cheap buildings built for present use until money 
enough is made out of the land to build better ones; occasionally 
the old temporary buildings are torn down and good farm 
houses and barns built in their stead; but as a rule the first 
buildings erected on a farm have not been improved upon. 
Groves have been planted and native timber generally taken care 
of, so that there is plenty of timber for all time to come, provided 
it is not wantonly destroyed and wasted. There is an abundance 
of good pure water to be had wherever wanted by digging for 
it. It is found at aji average of about twenty feet from the 
surface. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 332 

The surface of the county is undulating, not bluffy, affording 
excellent drainage. The pure running water in the numerous 
Btreams, with an absence of swamps and stagnant sloughs, renders 
the atmosphere salubrious at all seasons. Malarious diseases, and 
that scourge of some of the Eastern and Southern States, the fever 
and ague, are seldom if ever known. 

THE FINANCES 

of the county are in a very healthy condition indeed, the total 
indebtedness being only $5,600, which is bonded and drawing 
interest at 6 per cent. There is no floating debt and no probabil- 
ities that the future expenditures necessary to run the county will 
ever exceed the present low levy. Taxes are not burdensome and 
are growing lighter every year. 

Howard county is not situated away out on the frontier. It is 
the third county Avest from the Mississippi river in the northern 
tier of counties, and has a population of 10,837. as shown by the 
census taken last June. Cresco, the county seat has a population 
of 1,875. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway passes 
throvigh the northeastern and northern portions of the county, and 
two more lines are being surveyed and grade stakes set through 
the western part of the county now, both of which will probably 
be built during the coming season. 

The reason for the present depression in the price of land, is not 
because tlie land is poor in quality, but because so many of the 
farmers have, to quote Beecher, "tried to carry all their eggs in one 
basket, "to-wit: raised nothing but wheat. 

Still good improved land is worth from twenty to thirty dollars 
per acre. 

THE SOIL 

is a dark, deep sandy loam, no alkali, with a lime stone and clay 
subsoil, and is very productive of all kinds of crops, especially the 
different varieties of grasses. Kentucky blue grass can be grown 
plentifully with ease. Kentucky herself cannot compete with our 
prairies in the production of the famous forage plant. In fact 
blue grass and white clover are taking the place of the native grasses 
wherever the land is pastured to any extent. Timothy and clover 
are a sure and immense crop; in short, there is no end to the capa- 
bilities of this soil for all this class of products. Corn, oats, barley^ 
and flax, are always sure crops and yield largely. All kinds of root 



333 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. ' 

crops do well and yield enormously. Nearly all kinds of fruits 
are grown successfully. Wheat has always been a sure and profit- 
able crop until within a few years. In 1876 our people experienc- 
ed their first set back in wheat raising; the wheat was struck with 
the rust and we had less than half a crop. In 1877 we had a good 
wheat crop, the yield was enormous. In 1878 the Mdieat crop 
promised a greater yield than the crop of 1877, but it was destroyed 
just before maturity by heavy rains and exceedingly hot weather; 
it was literally cooked by the hot sun and vapor, from the wet 
ground. In 1879 and 1880 the wheat crop failed entirely. As a rule 
the people in this section of Iowa with the people of southeastern 
Minnesota have made wheat rajsing a specialty, perhaps seven out 
of every ten of the farmers have raised nothing else but wheat, in 
many cases they did not raise enough corn, oats, and hay to feed 
their horses througii the winter and would have to buy feed for 
them. They never raised any vegetables or garden stuff and did 
not keep any cattle, hogs or sheep. 

THE CLIMATE 

is healthful and invigorating. The summers are very warm; 
the winters are very cold. Yet neither of these seasons is ordinarily 
oppressive, for the hot days of summer are usually followed by 
cool, clear nights, and the winters are particularly distinguished 
for a dry, pure and invigorating atmosphere. Cyclones, hurri- 
canes, whirlwinds and water spouts have never been known in 
this section. The formation of the face of the country is such^ 
that storms of this class are either broKcn up or turned aside long 
before they reach us. The terrible "blizzards" that used to sweep 
over the country every winter when the country was new have 
lost their dangerous element. The fences and numerous groves 
planted on the different farms break their force, so that now it is 
not any more uncomfortable or dangerous to travel through the 
country here during the winter than in any of the Eastern States. 

THE PUBLIC OR FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM 

of Iowa is noted for being the best of any in the United States, 
and the schools in Howard county are of the best, and the high 
school of Cresco is not surpassed in the State. 

SOCIETY AND CHURCH PRIVILEGES 

will compare favorably with any and surpass many sections of the 
East where there is the same population in town and country. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 334 

Nearly all denominations are represented in the towns, and 
churches are built at convenient distances through the county. 
The people as a rule are intelligent, well informed, industrious 
temperate and law abiding citizens. 

Contrast the first feeble attempts at settlement, with the above, 
and then if you can, say that the future of Howard county does 
not seem grand. If in the brief years that have elapsed since the 
foot of the first Avhite man trod this virgin land, so much improve- 
ment has been made, may we not look for much more in the years 
to come. 

But everything has its beginning, and the settlement of the 
county was, of course, no exce])tion to the rule. We are told that 
in 1853, the first saw mill was erected, near what is now the town 
of Vernon Springs, on the Turkey river; it was in the grove, and 
built and owned by Oren Sprague. This was a great convenience 
to those who shortly came into the country. And for many years 
lumber was hauled from it to all parts of the country. In the 
summer and fall of 1854^ however, another saw mill was erected by 
W. Harlow, about one and a half miles from the present site of 
New Oregon; and in February, 1856, another was erected on the 
Cedar river, in Jamestown, by a company, of whom James D. Cut- 
ting, D. P. Bradford, John Mofifett and Lyman Southard were 
members. The first grist mill was erected in Foreston about 1854, 
and in the .summer of 1855, the second was built at Vernon 
Springs, on the Turkey river. 

The first store ever opened for business, within the limits of the 
county, was at Vernon Springs. Here, in the year 1854, Henry 
Milder, put up a building, and opened a store, where was kept the 
usual miscellaneous stock of the early merchants. This store was 
known for many years, far and wide, as the "blue store," from the 
color with which its owner saw fit to decorate its front. Here, to 
the "store" came all the pioneers, to buy their groceries, etc., and 
sit around the store in winter and exchange opinions on politics, 
crop prospects, local gossip, etc, as the manner of such is yet to 
this day. 

Miss Harriett Cole, has the honor of being the first to teach a 
school in Howard county. In 1854 it was first opened in a little 
log cabin, and she was installed as the first teacher, and her fitness 
for the position is testified to, by many of her pujDils, and by the 



335 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

fact that she has continued to wield the ferule for so many years. 

The pioneer church was one organized at the town of New 
Oregon, in 1856, under the pastorate of Rev. John W. Windsor, to 
whose energy and perservence it owes its inception and origin. It 
was. of the Congregational denomination, and still existed when the 
town of Cresco came into being, when finding that many of its 
members were moving to that city, the church was transferred 
there also, and preserves its existance with an unbroken chain from 
the earliest church unto the present time. In later years many 
other church organizations have sprung into being, which are men- 
tioned elsewhere. 

In 1854 a postofiice was established at "Oregon Grove", which 
was the first in the county. Hiram Johnson was the first post- 
master, acting as such for a short time; as before his commis- 
sion could reach him in those days of slow mail facilities, he re- 
moved from the county and state; going to Carmonia, Fillmore 
county, Minnesota, where he resided a few short years and then 
emigrated to California, where he died. S. M. Cole was then com- 
missioned as postmaster, being the first that was legally and truly 
such. The office was at his house in New Oregon township about 
three miles from where Cresco now stands. This office he held 
until 1857, when J. S. Lawver succeeded him and moved the post- 
office to village of New Oregon. 

In regard to who was the first child born in the county, there 
seems to be some dispute, but out of all the contradictory reports 
we have gathered, the fact seems to be that Lucy Thurber should 
enjoy that pre-eminence. This may be an error, but the weight 
of evidence seems to point that way. 

The first male child born in the county was Jacob Harlow, 
whose advent occurred in October, 1854. A son of Jacob Kramer's 
was born April 1855, and C. S. Thurber, jr., came into being 
August 27, 1855. We have been very particular to give these 
dates, as the question seems to have been discussed and disputed, 
and we have taken pains to give the facts as they really occurred. 

The first record of any marriage in the county, relates, that on 

February 21, 1856, Edmund Gillett led to the hymenal altar, Miss 

Helen Barber. 

Among the early arrivals in the new settlement, at New Oregon, 

then the most important village in the county, we find the names 

of several of the legal fraternity; among them M. V. Burdick, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 336 

who later sat upon the judicial bench, D. E. Mills, and W. R. 
Mead, the latter now and for many years the editor of the ''Plain- 
dealer," later came, a gentleman by the name of Gilchrist, ol whom 
old settlers tell a good story, which will bear repetition. 

It was at a meeting of the district court, Judge Samuel Mur- 
dock, presiding. Some cause or other had given rise to a feeling 
of ill will between Gilchrist and Murdock, and it was continually 
cropping out, through all the case, which was being tried. Every 
point raised by Gilchrist in the interest of his client, was overruled 
by the bench; every question decided against him until his 
patience was worn out. Throwing himself into an imposing 
attitude, with head thrown back and arms folded majestically 
across his chest, when the last point was gone, he exclaimed: "My 
God, what shall we do now?" The answer came from Judge Mu^-- 
dock in the cutting, sarcastic tone he knows so well how to use; 
•'Why, m}^ advice would be to hire an attorney." The situation 
can easier be imagined than described. The roar that greeted the 
judge's answer, together with the sarcasm of the reply, crushed 
Mr. Gilchrist, and for many years he endeavored to get even with 
the learned jurist, but never could recover the ground lost, and 
finally left the place. 

The first term of the district court was held at Vernon Springs, 
in June, 1857, Samuel Murdock being the judge, and was held in 
a hall rented for the purpose. At this term of tln^ court the fitst 
naturalization papers were issued in the county to one Joseph 
Schafer, an alien, who desired to become a citizen of the United 
States. 

The pioneer hotel was one kept by S. M. Cole, familiarl}^ known 
throughout the county as "Matt Cole," and was the stopping 
place for all those who moved through New Oregon, and for M. O. 
Walker's stage line, of which latter Mr. Cole was the agent. 

The first newspaper started was the Howard county Sentinel, 
established in the town of New Oregon, February 18, 1858, J. 
Howard Field being the editor. A fuller history of this paper 
will be found further on. 



337 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER II. 



Organization; Records; Proceedings of the County Boards; 
Burning of the Court House; The Flying Kyte; Tax Levys; 
Treasurers Reports; Resolutions, Etc. 



The first mention we find of the county of Howard, viewed 
from a judicial point of view, is the following from the records of 
Chickasaw county, to which it appears to have been attached: 

March term, Chickasaw county court, 1855: 

"Ordered, that Howard county be divided into two election 
districts, dividing the same into an eastern and a western district, 
from a line drawn north and .south through the center of the 
county. And that an election be held on the first Monday of 
April, to elect two justices of the peace and two constables in 
each precinct. Election to be held at the house of W. S. Pettibone, 
in the western district, and at the house of Geo. Schofield, in the 
eastern district." 

The election was held in accordance with the above, and we 
have been so fortunate as to procure a copy of the original poll 
book, as returned for the western district, which we copy verbatim, 
as it is quite a curiosity in its way : 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 338 

POLL BOOK OF HOWARD COUNTY, IOWA: 

1. John Geer. 

2. A. Pooler. 

3. Wm. S. Pettibone. 

4. A. S. Butters. 

5. Wm. P. Hough. 

6. James Hall. 

TALLY LIST. 

For Justices of Peace — 

Wm. S. Pettibone 6 votes. 

John Harlow 6 votes. 

For Constables — 

A. S. Butters 6 votes. 

John Brown 6 votes. 

At an election at the house of W.S. Pettibone, in Howard town- 
ship, Howard county, state of Iowa, on the 2d day of April, A. D. 
1855, there were six ballots cast, as follows: 

Justices of the Peace — 

Wm. S. Pettibone 6 votes. 

John Harlow 6 votes. 

Constables — 

A. S. Butters '. 6 votes. . 

John Brown 6 votes. 

A true return, 
A. Pooler, 



W. S. Pettibone, [ Judges of the Election. 



A. 8. Butters. j 

Attest : Wm. P. Hough, | ^^^^^^ ^^ Election. 
J AS. Hall. j 
The following is also an exact copy of the original petition, 
presented to Judge Lyon, of Chickasaw, at the July term of the 
county court, of Chickasaw county, 1855, which explains itself: 
"To the honorable county judge of Chickasaw county: 

The undersigned legal voters of Howard county respectfully ask 
your Honor to take the necessary steps to effect the organizatiotL 
of said Howard county at the coming August election: 
And your petitioners will ever pray : 
John Odeen, James Mahood, 

James W. Snider, George Duffy, 

Nye Gushing. 



339 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

We are given to understand that there was considerable opposi- 
tion to the organization of the connty at this time, but the thing 
was skillfully handled, the petition presented and the order of the 
court issued, granting the same before any one, from whom the 
opposition might be expected, was aware. On the record book of 
the county judge we find the following, in regard to the matter: 

"A petition was presented to me on the 17th day of July, 1855, 
for organizing Howard county. 

"Ordered, that the same be granted and an election be held at 
the houses of W. S. Pettibone and G. W. Schofield, in said 
county, to elect a county judge; sheriff; recorder and treasurer; 
prosecuting attorney; coroner; surveyor; school fund commis- 
sioner, and a district clerk, and that Edmund Gillett be organi- 
zating sheriff to call the election on the first Monday of August, 
1855. Jas. Lyon, county judge." 

The election was held in accordance with the order, as above, 
and the officers chosen were: 

County judge — James G. Upton. 

Clerk— Edmund Gillett. 

Recorder and treasurer — Wm. Woodward. 

Sheriff — John Harlow. 

Prosecuting attorney — M. V. Burdick. 

The first entry we find upon the record of the new county 
judge, bears the date of September 15, 1855, and is an order of 
the court to pay 1). B. Cook & Co., of Chicago, $126.00 for books 
and stationery for the use of the county. 

As the clerk could not write very well while holding his book or 
paper on his knee, the court also ordered that a desk be purchased 
for his use at an expense of thirty dollars. 

The first regularly laid out road evidently dates from the year 
1857, as we find it recorded that John C. Miles be paid for survey- 
ing road number one. A state road was also built through the 
southern part of the county during the same year. Before this 
the roads were more properly trails than surveyed and built roads, 
winding through the prairies and groves in zig-zags that lengthened 
the distance considerably. Sometimes marked and oftener not. 

At the June term of the county court, 1857, it was ordered that 
hereafter the jury should be seated, and that twelve chairs be 
ordered for their accommodation. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 340 

The following proclamation was placed upon the records of the 
court during the July term, 1857: 

State of Iowa, ] 
County of Howard, j 

In pursuance of the code of Iowa, and at the request of a 

portion of the people of said county, an election is hereby ordered 

to be held in the several townships in said county of Howard, oa 

the third day of August, A. D, 1857, at the places where the last 

April elections were held, to vote upon the question, whether the 

said county of Howard should take $150,000 of the stock of the 

Northwestern railroad company, and issue bonds in payment 

therefore, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, 

the principal sum to be paid in twenty ^years. And that a tax be 

levied upon the taxable property of said county for'^the payment 

of principal and interest. The said railroad company to pay the 

interest on said bonds, until said road is in operation to the east 

line of said county of Howard. Said bonds to be issued when 

said road shall be in operation to Decorah, Winnesheik county, 

and permanently located to the west line of Howard county. 

The form of the vote shall be: "For the Railroad Stock." 
"Against the Railroad Stock." 

Every affirmative vote shall be considered for the proposition 
entire. 

In testimony, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
the seal of said county, this first day of July, A. D. 1857. 

[seal.] James G. Upton, 

County judge. 

The court evidently desired the greatest light on the sul)ject, as 
we find that a bill was presented and allowed at the August term, 
1857, for $2.90 to pay for candles. And at the same term the 
judge ordered the purchase of a safe for the county records, to be 
purchased of Chislet, Buckley & Co., of Dubuque, to cost 320 
dollars. 

Again during the October term of court, 1857, we are called on 
to lament the enervating effects of law, as the sheriff is ordered to 
purchase a stove and pipe. 

There were in 1859 five townships regularly organized in the 
county, viz: Vernon Springs, Jamestown, Osborne, Howard Center, 
and Iowa. In 1858 New Oregon, Forest City, and Howard were 



341 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

added to the list. This is according to the only record that 
survives the fire that destroyed the Court House in December, 
1876. 

The judge at the October term of court, 1858, fixed the follow- 
ing as the rate of tax: 

County tax, five mills on the dollar; state tax, one and a half 
mill; road tax, one and a half mill; school tax, one and a half 
mill. 

The bounties on wolf and wild cat scalps are quite numerous 
during this yeari at every term of court many being paid. 

The county seat was moved, by order of the county judge, from 
Howard Center to a point - midway between the towns of New 
Oregon and Vernon Springs, where the court house was built in 
February, 1859, as will be more tully detailed elsewhere. 

At the February term of court, 1860, a petition was received, 
signed by J. W. Baird and others, asking that the name of 
Osborne township be changed to Albion. By an order of the 
court, dated March 5, 1860, the prayer was granted and the name 
accordingly changed to the one it has borne ever since. 

Under date of August 4, 1860, we find recorded that a license 
was issued to Cook's circus, that it might exhibit at New Oregon; 
this is the first that ever made its appearance within the limits of 
the county, and hence is a matter of record. 

September 1, 1860, the first sale of delinquent taxes, those for 
1857-8 and 9, occurred, and is entered in the judge's record, as 
sliraly attended. 

The tax levy, ordered by the county court for 1860, places it at: 
County tax, five mills on the dollar; state tax, one and a half 
mill, and school tax, one and a half mill. 

In 1861, the mode of government for the county was changed 
and instead of tlie county judge, being, ex-officio, the ruler of the 
matters of government, the power was lodged in a board of super- 
visors, composed of one member from each organized towiiship. 
January 7th, 1861, the first board met and was composed of the 
following gentlemen: 

J. W. Barrel, of Albion; G. W. Ostrander, of Howard; T. R. 
Perry, of Howard Centre; T. Griffin, of Paris; S. W. Seeley, of 
Jamestown; J. H. Boggess, of Afton; S. Radford, of Chester; M. 
Miles, of Iowa river; C. M. Munson, of New Oregon; W. Strother, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 345 

of Vernon Springs; C. A. Salmon, of Saratoga; S. L. Gary, of 
Forest City. At the first meeting of the board, the following reso- 
lution was adopted: 

"Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Howard county, 
that having examined the contract entered into, by and between 
Darius Seeley, county judge, and the Northern Iowa Railroad 
company, for the conditional conveyance of the swamp lands of 
said county, to aid in the construction of such road, that the said 
contract hereby meets and has our entire approval. 

"Also, Resolved, That a suitable person be sent to the meeting 
of the bondholders, meeting in Milwaukee, of the Milwaukee and 
Mississippi railroad, and also a meeting of the directors of the 
Northern Iowa railroad, January 18, 1861, to look after the inter- 
ests of the county." 

At the February meeting of the board, the committee, appointed 
to examine the books of .the county judge, reported, that, they 
found the books in such inextricable confusion, that it was impos- 
sible to audit them, or make anything out of them. And they, 
also, found that the records of the county, as kept by the county 
recorder, during the year 1856, were upon loose, unbound paper, 
and many of them liable to be easily lost to the great detriment of 
the interests of the people. 

June session of the board of supervisors J. H. St. John was ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy, caused by the removal from the county, 
of S. W. Seeley, late member of the board from Jamestown town- 
ship. 

The mighty march of civilization, moves onward hand in hand 
with crime; the clerk is instructed to purchase two pair shackles 
and three pair of hand cuffs for the use of the sheriff's office. 
This at the June session, 1861. 

At the same time, the board made the rate, for the tax levy of 
1861 as follows: 

For county tax, four mills on the dollar; state tax, one and one- 
half mills; school tax, one mill and for bridge fund three-fourths 
of a mill. 

In January, 1862, we find, that, owing to the prospective wealth 
of the county looming up so large, the county treasurer was unable 
to write with a common steel pen, and the honorable board of 
supervisors pass a resolution to purchase a gold one, to be the 



346 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

property of the county, and to be placed in the custody of the 
treasurer, but without his giving any additional bonds. 

At the session of the board of supervisors, held in June, 1862, a 
petition of the citizens of Iowa river township was granted chang- 
ing the name of said township to Oakdale. 

The following will show the status of the finances of the county 
in 1862, being the report of the treasurer, delivered June 1st, of 
that year: 

COUNTY FUND. 

To cash in treasury at last report $ 17.89 

Amount collected since 2173.71 

Amount warrants issued 632.22 

$2823.82 

By county warrants redeemed 2611.00 

By cash in treasury 212.82 

$2823.82 

STATE TAX FUND. 

To amount in the treasury, last report 124.59 

To amount collected since 737.86 

To amount due A. M. McCowan 12.13 

$874.58 
By disbursements 874.58 

COUNTY SCHOOL FUND. 

To amount in the treasury last report 444.23 

To amount collected since 544.74 

$988.97 

By disbursements 831 .60 

Cash in treasury 157.37 

$988.97 

POLL TAX FUND. 

To amount collected to date 90.40 

By amount transfered to general county fund.. 90.40 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 347 

BRIDGE FUND. 

To cash in treasury, last report 24.54 

To cash collected since 227.86 

$252.40 
By amount transferred general county fund 252.40 

FEDERAL TAX 1861. 

.To amount collected to date 227.41 

By amount in treasury 227.41 

During the Indian outbreak and massacres in the state of Min- 
nesota, during the summer of 1862, may people in Howard county 
became seriously alarmed, and the board of supervisors passed the 
following resolution : 

"To his excellency, Samuel J. Kirkwood, governor of the state 
of Iowa, or the agents acting therefore; 

Believing it to be the duty of good citizens to prepare for war, 
especially on the era of danger from the savage foe, now ravaging 
our northern frontier, and desolating the homes of our fellow-citi- 
zens in the adjoining state of Minnesota, do hereby humbly request 
you send five hundred stand of arms, with their accouterments, to 
the county of Howard, and the said county pledges itself for the 

yeturn of the same, excepting such as may be lost in the casual- 
ities of war." 

However, before this could be acted upon, the danger had passed 
away and once more the community retired in peace at night, 
with no fear of the dreaded savage, to disturb their slumbers. 

A resolution was adopted, by the board, at the September ses- 
gion, 1862, which recites that "owing to the unusual expense of the 
county in giving bounties to soldiers and their families, [The 
record of this may be found in the chapter devoted to war 
record. — Ed,] and the consequent depreciation of the county war- 
rants; therefore, 

Resolved, That the clerk be, and is hereby directed, to give 
proper notice, and submit to the people at the next general elec- 
tion, the question of levying a special tax of six mills on the 
dollar. As to whether this election was carried out, the records 
are entirely silent. 

At the January session, 1863, of the board, a resolution was 
adopted, donating all the swamp lands, belonging to the county, 



348 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. ' 

to aid in the construction and equipment of. the McGregor West- 
ern raih'oad, on condition, that the aforesaid raih'oad should build 
a road from North McGregor, westward, to intersect the said 
county, from east to west. The resolution was to be submitted to 
a vote of the people, for ratification, at the next general election, 
and the clerk ordered to make the necessary proclamation. 

At the general election held October 19th, 1863, the people rati- 
tified the above, by a heavy majority. 

At the January session, C. E. Berry resigne I the position of 
county judge and the board appointed D. Seeley to fill the va- 
cancy. 

The treasurers report for January, 1863, shows as follows: 

To cash on hand, last report $ 17.89 

To amount collected during year 34351.72 

Total $32369.61 

By warrants redeemed 22934.78 

By cash refunded 24.62 

By delinquent county tax 9225.67 

B}' rebateable county tax 454.39 

By delinquent bridge tax 975.12 

By rebateable bridge tax 19.38 

By delinquent poll tax 443.00 

By rebateable poll tax 292.75 

Total $34369.61 

At the June session, 1865, of the board of supervisors, C. E. 
Brown, resigned, his position on the board, and James G. Upton 
was admitted in his place. 

June 6th, 1865, S. W. Seeley, resigning his position, as county 
judge, the board of supervisors appointed D. 0. Preston, his suc- 
cessor, P. T. Searles also resigning the office of sheriff, C. S. 
Thurber was appointed, to fill the vacancy. 

The following resolution, adopted by the honorable board, at the 
September meeting, 1865, explains itself: 

"Whereas, the building, now occupied by the county officers, of 
Howard county, has become so dilapitated by age, as to render it 
unfit for oflfice purposes and an unsafe repository for the records 
of said county." And as the county is offered the first and 
second buildings, in his stone block, in the village of Vernon 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 349 

Springs, by L. L. Halstead, for the use of the county as a court 

house with lease and receipt for one years rent, therefore the board 

ordered the records to be removed thither with the county officers 

and ordered also that such building be considered the court 

house. 

October, 1865, a resolution was adopted by the board, submitting 

to the people the question of extending the time in the contract 

with the McGregor Western railroad in which to construct the 

railroad through the county; also in giving the said railroad the 

benefit of all the swamp lands in the said Howard county. 

It seems, from the record, that this session of the board of sup- 
ervisors, was held at Vernon Springs although the seat of county 
government was not removed thither. Every effort was made to 
have the county seat relocat d. Vernon Springs renewing their 
offer to give the use of the Halstead block for a courthouse with 
sundry inducements, while New Oregon village in turn made the 
offer to erect in their place a brick building, and give the use of 

the same free of charge. 

At the June session of the board, the New Oregon Plaindealer 

was made the official organ of the county 
At the same meeting the following resolution was adopted: 

"Resolved, that a committee of 3 consisting of the chair and 2 
other members,to be appointed by the chair, to solicit terms for 
the purchasing of a suitable farm for the support of the poor of 
Howard county, Iowa. That said conmiittee report prices, 
location, terms, advantages, etc., of lands by them thought suit- 
able for said purpose, at the next meeting of this board; said land 
not to be less in amount than one hundred and sixty acres. 

The committee Avas also given the power, to advertise for sealed 
bids, for the same purpose. At the September meeting the above 
appointed committee submitted the following report, which was 
adopted, and the committee discharged: "That they have received 
several proposals, of farms for sale, but not any in their judgement 
answering the purposes of the county. Your committee further 
report, that in their judgement, they cannot purchase a farm,with 
the necessary improvements, and therefore, would recommend, if 
the board see fit, to purchase a piece of unimproved land and 
make the necessary improvements. 

Stephen Radford, ^ 

C. W. Field, v Committee. 

C. S. Thurber, 3 



350 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

The honorable board of supervisors, at the September meeting, 
1866, fixed the tax levy for the year, as follows: 

State, two and a half mills on the dollar; county, four mills; 
poll tax, fifty cents; school, one mill: bridge, three mills; insane, 
one mill; bounty, seven mills; relief, one mill. 

The first mention of the town of Cresco, the present county 
seat, occurs in the record of the January session of the board of 
supervisors; a resolution making the Cresco Times the second 
official paper of Howard county. At the same meeting a petition 
was read, signed by Augustus Beadle and others, praying that 
the county papers, records, files, etc., be removed to Cresco, and 
making sundry proposals to build for the accommodation of the 
county officers and their books and papers a suitable court house. 

Furthermore, an invitation was extended to the honorable board 
to view the proposed site for said court house. The members of 
the board of supervisors, by resolution, decided to accept the 
invitation, and it was so recorded. The clerk, being facetiously 
inclined, makes a marginal note to the record of the above, in one 
word, "Convivial." 

At the same session, after having apparently "seen'-' the site of 
the proposed court house, the following resolution was adopted: 

"Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Howard county, 
Iowa, that the proposition of the aforesaid Beadle and others, to 
build a court house and furnish it free to the county, and also a 
hall for the use of the board of supervisors and for court purposes, 
be and is hereby accepted, and the sheriff" is ordered to remove 
the records, etc., at the time contemplated, on or before June, 1. 
1867." 

At the meeting held in June, 1867, Thos. Sullivan was admitted 
as a member of the board of supervisors. At the same time the 
officers of the county were directed to remove their offices, etc., to 
the building then being constructed by the Howard county court 
house association, in the village of Cresco, whenever the com- 
mittee shall decide to accept it as a safe and suitable place for the 
same. The board also laid the tax levy for the year 1867, as 
follows : 

County fund, four mills on Ihe dollar; state fund, two and a half 
mills; county school fund, one mill; bridge fund, three mills; 
insane fund, three mills; relief fund, one and a half mill. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 351 

By a report of a committee of the board of supervisors to that 
body, delivered at the November session, 18G7, we find tlie in- 
debtedness of the county stood thiis: 

Indebtedness of the county to date $25,580.07 

Deducting the amount of tax due and un- 
collected 10,125.00 

Leaving a debt of $15,455.07 

The former action of the board in regard to the poor farm hav- 
ing been suffered to collapse, they again move in the matter at the 
January session, 1868, when the following resolution was spread 
upon the records: 

"Whereas, it is deemed advisable by this board that some pro- 
vision be made for the poor of the county, whereby they may be 
subsisted at a less cost to the county than by the present method. 
Therefore, 

"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to look for a 
feasible site for a ])oor house farm, improved or unimproved; 
ascertain the cost of the sam.e, estimate the cost of the necessary 
buildings and improvements, and report to this board at the June 
session with a view to submit the proposition to a vote of the 
electors of this county, at the next general election, according to 
the provisions of the code of the state of Iowa." 

Messrs. Thurber, Griffin, and Patterson were appointed as the 
committee, in accordance with the above, to carry out the wishes 
of the board. 

A petition from the board of supervisors, bearing the date of 
February 3, 1868, was forwarded to the legislature of the state of 
Iowa, requesting them not to pass the bill then before them, to 
legalize the action of a previous board, in conveying to the 
McGregor, Western railroad all the swamp lands of the county, on 
the plea that the said railroad had entirely failed to carry out the 
provisions and conditions of the original contract, entered into by 
them, with the people of Howard county. 

The county has suffered, in times past, many misfortunes in the 
loss of money in the treasurer's oflice. The first of the series 
being upon the night of the 15th of March, 1868, when some 
party or parties unknown burglariously entered the treasurer's 
office, and breaking open the safe therein, abstracted moneys and 



352 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

securities to the amount of thirteen thousand dollars. The board 
immediately offered a reward of two thousand dollars for the 
recovery of the money and conviction of the thief or thieves, or 
one thousand dollars for either. Suspicion was rife, and able 
detectives, with Allan Pinkerton at their head, hunted for a clue, 
but the bloodhounds of law were at fault, and in spite of their 
manifold and strenuous efforts the abstractors were never appre- 
hended, whatsoever evidence was collected being of to slight a 
nature to warrant any such a course, and in the end the matter 
was dropped and the county had to suffer the loss. 

The treasurer was ordered to procure a new safe, suitable for 
his office, made more securely burglar proof than the late one,and 
with this the matter rested, except the suspicion that remains in 
the minds of many to this day, that they could point out the 
thief; but beyond the suspicion nothing can be said, and it may 
be that many an entirely innocent man is regarded by his neigh- 
bor as knowing more about it than he should. 

The lack of timber being a want long felt throughout the 
county, a resolution was adopted by the board of supervisors of 
the county, at their April session, to effect that the real and per- 
sonal property of each and every person in the county should be 
exempt from all taxation, except that for state purposes, who 
should plant and cultivate for two years one or more acres of 
forest trees for timber, the said exemption being to the amount of 
one hundred dollars per acre, provided that the trees should not 
be over three feet apart. This was amended at the June session 
so as to include an exemption from taxes at the rate of one 
hundred dollars per acre, all who planted and cultivated a half 
mile of tree hedge. 

The committee appointed at a previous session of the board in 
the matter of the poor farm reported at this, the June session, 
1868, that they had viewed the place of Albert Miller, at Saratoga, 
of which the price was three thousand dollars, and contained one 
hundred and sixty acres, twenty-five of which was timber, forty- 
five or fifty under cultivation, the improvements on the same con- 
sisting of a good house and a poor stable, they found the place 
well watered and the means of access good, being on the main 
road from Cresco to Osage. Also, that they had viewed the place 
of Kenling and Robinson, two miles south of Saratoga, found the 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 353 

land good and easy of access, well watered and the price reason- 
able, there being three hundred and twenty acres with some im- 
provements, and the whole could be purchased for fifteen hundred 
and thirty dollars. The committee considering this very reason- 
able, indeed, recommended that the question be submitted to the 
electors of the county at the next general election, as to whether 
the county should purchase it. They also estimated the full cost 
of the farm, and the necessary equipment of the same would not 
exceed the sum of five thousand dollars, and add the recom- 
mendation that the vote had better be taken on that amount. 

In July, 1869, at a special meeting, the board of supervisors de- 
cided to withdraw all litigation now going on between the coujity 
and the McGregor Western railroad, leaving the swamp lands, the 
source of the trouble, in the hands of the said railroad company, 
on condition that the said railroad put a station at the town of 
Chester. 

We find that the indebtedness of the county steadily increased 
through all these years until in Se])tember, 1869, it had amounted 
to $26,459.16, that is, including all outstanding warrants and other 
claims against the treasury of the county. 

The rate of taxation, ordered by the board for the levy of 1869, 
was as follows: 

State, two mills on the dollar; county, four mills; bridge, three 
mills; insane-, two mills; county school, one mill. 

The contract was let by the board for the erection of the bridge 
at Florence, during the year 1869, and the committee reported at 
the October session, the same 3'ear, that the said bridge was 
finished and payment ordered; the cost being $2,500, according 
to the contract. 

In 1870, at the January session, the committee of the board of 
supervisors, on agriculture, reported that "they have examined 
the claims of persons, who have asked exemption from taxation, 
under -the resolution of the board and under an act of the 12th 
general assembly of the state of Iowa, entitled: 

"An act to encourage the planting and growing of timber, fruit, 
and shade trees and hedges." 

And the committee recommend that the claims of the following 
be allowed : 



354 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

James Nichols, H. C. Gardner. 

C. F. Webster, D. M. Rand, 

■ S. A. Stone, J. E. Webster, 

William Nichols, James Dunn, 

C. F. Gardner, Madison Taft, 

W. H. Treat, W. D. Darrow, 

Henry Gardner, Holt Nichols, 

Robert Fox, James Oakle.y, 

I. C. Chamberlain, 

We give the above with the names of the parties in detail, as 
they are the pioneers in the movement of arboriculture in the 
count3^ 

According to a report made by a committee to the board, Jan. 
1870, the indebtedness of the county at that time amounted to the 
sum of S26,459.11, divided between the general county and bridge 
funds, and at the same time they find no cash in the treasury to 
meet the said liabilities. 

The expenses of the county were also found to exceed the 
revenue, thereof, about three thousand dollars per annum, and as 
a measure toward liquidation of the debt and provisions for the 
deficit, the said committee recommended that there be submitted 
to the people of Howard county a proposition, at the next general 
election, to levy an additional tax of six mills on the dollar, and 
further i-ecommended that one-half of the insane fund, (for which 
there was but little use), be transferred to the general county fund. 
The report of the above committee was received and the committee 
was discharged, but the matter was not submitted to the people 
as a law of the state showed them a better way, in their 
opinion, to arrange the matter, viz: By bonding the indebtedness 
• and creating a sinking fund for its redemption. The board at its 
next session, June, 1870, passed a resolution to accordingly bond 
the debt of the county to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, 
the same to bear date of October 1, 1870, payable on or before 
October 1, 1880; interest to be not more than ten per cent., pay- 
able semi-annually. The treasurer was, furthermore, instructed to 
negotiate the said bonds at the lowest rate of interest obtainable. 
The bonds were to be issued in sums of ^100, and the treasurer 
was to take up the outstanding warrants of the county, and give 
-in exchange the bonds. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 355 

All this was in accordance with the act of the thirteenth general 
assembly of the state of Iowa, approved March 30, 1870. 

The" legislature having made a change in the number of super- 
visors in each county, reducing them to three, but alloAving the 
counties the privilege of increasing that to live, the board passed a 
resolution, at the same session, to submit to the people of the 
county, at the next general election, the question: "Shall the board 
of supervisors be increased to five." 

The bridge at Lime Springs, then in the course of construction, 
seems from some imperfection in the building, to have fallen; the 
board ordered the attorney of the count}' to bring suit against the 
contractor and his sureties^ if thought advisable. 

At a meeting held during the regular session of the board, 
in September, 1870, the following resolution was unanimously 
adopted : 

"Resolved, thid the resolution of June, 1870, providing for the 
funding of the county debt, be so amended as to include the whole 
debt of the county, on May 1, 1870." 

The tax levy, for the year 1870, was laid as follows: 
State, two mills on the dollar; county, four mills; bridge, three 
mills; insane, two mills; school, one mill; bond fund, four mills. 
At the October session of the board the county auditor was in- 
structed to sell all the remaining unsold lands, known as "school 
lands," under the provisions of the law. 

January 1, 1871, the new board of county supervisors met, and 
drawing lots for the length of term to be held by each, D. E. 
Potter drew for the three years term, C. W. Wood, two years, and 
Aaron Kimball the one year term. 

The same board laid the usual tax levy for the year 1871, as 
follows: 

State tax, two mills on the dollar; bridge tax, three mills; 
general county tax, four mills; insane fund tax, one mill; school 
tax, one mill; bond tax, three mills. 

The tax rate for the levy of J 873 was : 

For count}^ fund, four mills on the dollar; state fund, two mills; 
insane fund, two mills; county school fund, one mill. 

We find very little of any moment in the records about this 
time, the business of the board being chiefly in regard to building 



356 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

and repairing bridges, and auditing the usual bills against the 
county, which, Avere we to make a faithful transcript of, would 
prove but dry reading. 

At the election held in October, 1873, "Jerry" Barker received 
656 votes, to \V. W. White's 651, for county auditor; this the 
latter contested on the ground of fraudulent voting, and having 
possession of the office would not give up the same to Mr. Barker. 
The matter was carried into the courts, and was, seemingly, de- 
cided against Barker, but the board of supervisors, having a full 
knowledge of the "true inwardness" of the matter, stepped in and 
appointed said Barker to the office at their January session, 1874; 
this action was also disputed 'by Mr. White on the plea that he 
was auditor until his successor was elected and qualified, and that 
the board had no power, vested in them by law, to remove him. 
He was met by the counter argument, that as the said board had 
appointed him to the position of county auditor, which he now 
filled, to fill the vacancy caused by the -resignation of C. S. 
Thurber, who was appointed postmaster, the same power could 
remove him. The dispute lasted some time, the board even going 
so for as to caution the county treasurer, by resolution, not to do 
business with Wliite as auditor. In Februpry, however. White 
capitulated and surrendered the office, which was immediately 
placed in the hands of Jeremiah Barker. 

An act was passed at the regular session of the board, in April, 
1875, to build a wrought iron bridge at Florenceville, at a cost of 
$3,500, and the contract was let and bridge erected in accordance 
therewith. 

Again at the session of the board, in September, 1876, the matter 
of the county seat comes to the front, and the said board taking 
the subject under advisement, issued a notice that at the next 
general election the question would be submitted to the people of 
the county as to whether the said seat of the county government 
should or not be located at Cresco, the same being now situated 
half way between the villages of New Oregon and Vernon Springs, 
but for convenience sake, the building at the town of Cresco was 
occupied as the county seat. These matters are treated more in 
detail in the chapter devoted to the county seat controversy. 

December 1, 1876, the court house, at Cresco, was destroyed by 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY, 357 

fire. We quote from the Howard County Times the account of 

the conflagration. 

"On Friday morning last, December 1st, the county court house 

and county records were destroyed by fire. The flames were dis- 
covered at a little after twelve o'clock. Thanksgiving night. The 
festivals in Lyric hall, and Dr. Price's hall, with the supper in 
Caward's building (all in the vicinity of the court house), kept a 
large number of our citizens up later than usual. A number of 
young men and young ladies, returning from the supper room 
about midnight, discovered the fire and gave the alarm. One of 
the number (John G. Stradley), having the key to the treasurer's 
ofiice, opened the door and entered the room with others. There 
was then no fire in the treasurer's ofiice. Mr. Stradley opened the 
little slide door between the offices of the treasurer and auditor, 
and looking carefully into the latter, discovered that there was no 
fire therein. A further examination revealed a fire in the floor of 
the court room above, immediately over the blind door in the 
partition, between the hallway and the auditor's office, on the hall 
side, in line with but not over the marshal's lantern, which was 

lighted and hanging in its usual place. 

"The door on the south side of the court room (in the second 

story), was then broken in, but the room was then so full of 

smoke that M. L. Luther, who first entered it, was prostrated to 

the floor, and had to crawl out on his hands and knees. The 

smoke and heat were so inter,se that it was impossible to obtain 

ingress to remove and save the books, records, and contents of the 

court room, which the hungry flames soon devoured. Only a few 

days before the clerk of the courts had his books, records, and 

offica fixtures moved to the room above, for greater convenience 

during the session of the courts, and with the intention of making 

it his permanent office, leaving his old room in the southwest 

corner for the use of the sheriff", juries, etc. Thus it happened 

that nearly all the court records were destroyed by the fire. 

"The recorder and auditor being absent, their offices were broken 

into, and all their valuable records saved, as well as those of the 

treasurer, and all the contents of the safes of the treasurer, auditor, 
and recorder have been found well preserved, except in some 
instances slightly discolored and the bindings injured. 

* ;ic * ^ * 

The loss cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. The money, 
real estate records, and all other valuable books and papers, except 



358 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

the court records, as before stated, were saved. The loss of these 
latter will cause great inconvenience and perhaps litigation, but it 
is probable that the means may be found to effect a restoration of 

most of them. 

***** 

"The property was insured for $3,500, as follows: $1,000 in the 
Etna, on the building, for the benefit of the court house association; 
$1,000 in the same company on the records, and $1,500 in the 
Home, of New York, on the furniture, fixtures, etc. 

"The cause of the fire is unknown, some attributing it to 
accident, and others to inceuLiiarism. Some seem to have almost 
positive convictions, that it was the work of an incendiary, and 
give reasons for their opinion, which it would not be advisable to 
publish. It seems to be the general Opinion, however, that the 
careless habit of throwing cigar stumps on the floor, is responsible 
for the fire. A lighted cigar would light a fire that would smoulder 
for hours in the thick matting, with which a part of the court 
room was spread. A strip of this matting was immediately over 
the place where the fire was first discovered." 

In the light of later developments many people, who are 
cognizant of the affairs of the county, connect the fire with the 
defalcation and absconding of the county treasurer, and claim 
that there is an evident connection between the two, that to cover 
up his tracks he fired the building. This has never been proven, 
and may be a misconstruction, human nature ever being prone to 
condemn a man for all the wrongs he might do if he only com- 
mits one — kick a man when he-is down, so to speak. 

For the facts in regard to the above mentioned embezzlement of 
the funds by the county treasurer, Frank Kyte, and his move- 
ments, at the time, we are indebted to the kindness of L. E. Smith, 
of the Cresco Times, who with rare courtesy, extended to us all 
help in compiling the records of Howard county, and who placed 
at our disposal all the papers in regard to the matter in point. 

On Monday, July 12, 1877, the community of Cresco was 
startled by the receipt of a telegram from McGregor, stating that 
Frank Kyte, the county treasurer, had been drowned in the 
Mississippi river, on Sunday afternoon, while bathing at a point 
near the pictured rocks, some two miles below town. Telegrams 
were sent to the difllerent members of his family, notifying them 



HISTOliY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 359 

• 

of his death, and John G. Stradley, S. A. and Frank Sutton 
started for McGregor on the first train, meaning to assist in 
recovering his body. On their arrival they were informed that he 
went in swimming in company with Frank Tryan, the son of the 
proprietor of the Mondell house, at Prairie du Chien, where he 
was stopping. Kyte persisted in the assertion (according to his 
story), that he could swim to the island, nearly a third of a mile, 
and return, which feat he accordingly tried. Tryan, whilst dress- 
ing, heard Kyte's scream and saw him go down. Being under the 
impulse of fear, he inmiediately started for Prairie du Chien to 
give the alarm, and on arriving there told his pitiful tale. John 
Lawler, with his usual promptitude and generosity, at once ordered 
out the ferry boat to search for the body. Quite a number of row- 
boats, also, went to the place pointed out, and assisted in the 
search. 

On Monday, the body not being yet recovered, the cannon be- 
longing to the artillery battery at McGregor, was taken on board 
the ferry boat, and served by volunteers, commenced firing, 
to raise the body to the surface, the merchants of Mc- 
Gregor, having contributed liberally to the fund to buy powder, 
etc. All day the bluffs re-echoed to the booming of the artillery, 
and the whole city was on tif>-toe of excitement, and every meana 
was taken for the recovery of the corpse. All efforts were in vain. 
H. W. Babcock; of Cresco, who was on business in McGregor at 
the time, offered fifty d(jllars for the recovery of the body, and 
Mr. Stradley, on his arrival, at once offered one hundred dollars. 
All day the search continued, under the able direction of Amoa 
Pearsall, of McGregor, and Peter Velie, of Prairie du Chien. 
Toward evening, however, a rumor, started on the streets, that 
Kyte had purchased a new suit of clothes on Saturday, in xMc- 
Gregor. This rumor and others, that were floating around, were 
diligently followed up, by the gentlemen from Cresco. On Tues- 
day morning they learned, that, a man, answering the description 
of the supposed dead man, had been seen, walking on the track 
near' Clayton, and later at the town of Guttenburg. Immediately 
Messrs. Pearsall, Stradley, and Sutton proceeded to the latter 
place, and tracked the man to a point about opposite to the town 
of Cassville, Wisconsin. They found evidence strong enough to 
force conviction on their minds, that the man they were following 



360 HISTOUY OF HOWARD COUNTY. ^i 

was indeed the absconding treasurer, Kyte, and that he, in the 
words of the immortal Webster, still lived. He had shaved o^" his 
moustache and at Clayton and Guttenburg, was n,oticed, from the 
liberality with which he threw around his money, treating to 
drinks, etc. It was also found that he had crossed the river, at 
Turkey river station. The party did not pursue any further, but 
returned to McGregor, and took legal advice, as what was best to 
be done under the circumstances. They Jearned, much to their 
surprise, no doubt, that there existed no authority, in them, to 
arrest him as there was no charge against him, or evidence that 
he had committed any crime. Meanwhile P. N. Glathart, one of 
the Cresco delegation, was watching the movements of young 
Tryan, to prevent his escape or flight, and upon the return of the 
pursuing party, and the narration of the facts learned by them, 
-Tryan was interviewed. He was. told, in ])retty strong language, 
that it was now ascertained, beyond all question, that Frank Kyte 
was not drowned — that he (Tryan) had lied about it, and must 
own up, and more to the same eflfect. The threats and menaces 
of his interrogators produced the effect, and he admitted the fact, 
Kyte had skipped out, and that the report of his drowning, was a 
fabrication. The true story now came out, partly extorted from 
the young man, and partly from other sources. 

It seems that Kyte had been in ill-health for some time past, 
and had been at the sanitarium, at Prairie du Chien, taking baths, 
or as he jocularly termed it "taking a scald." While there, he got 
on very friendly terms with this young Tryan, getting on the 
"right side of him," as the slang expression is by liberally treating, 
and making a companion of him. He told Tryan a pitiful tale, 
to raise his compassion, telling him, that he had a scrape in Cresco, 
in which a woman was concerned, and that it would soon become 
public and that he had better be dead, at least to his friends — for 
it would be hell on earth to him, to have it come out, and live 
among it. The two inseperables, after purchasing the suit of 
clothes, went to the pictured rocks, and they, according to previous 
agreement, went in swimming. After sporting in the 

water some time Tryan climbed out and while dressing saw 
Kyte sink and turned his back, so that he might not see him 
emerge. Kyte now having been drowned put out for more con- 
genial climes, and Tryan hastened to Prairie du Chien, to carry 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 363 

out his pait of the comedy. Kyte bungled his part of the job 
sadly, but so it seems "The best laid plans of men and mice oft 
gang agley." Kyte left a wife and child, a son only two months 
old, to "suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," and 
bear the brand of the felon shame of his erring father. No man 
had a larger circle of acquaintance and friends than he, and he 
was trusted and beloved by all. 

The following resolution, of the board of supervisors in special 
session assembled, July, 1877 explains itself: 

"Whereas, Frank Kyte, late treasurer of Howard county, has 
absconded, and has^not been seen at the treasurer's oflice in the 
said county for the past twelve days, and is nowhere to be found, 
and his present whereabouts is to us unknown, and that it is be- 
lieved that he has ceased to be a resident of said county, there- 
fore; 

Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Howard county, that 
the facts recited above have caused a vacancy in the office of 
county treasurer, and the office of county treasurer is now vacant, 
and we hereby so declare. 

"Resolved, Further that James F. Borthwick be and is hereby 
appointed county treasurer, of Howard county to fill the vacancy 
now existing in said office. 

"Resolved, That the incoming treasurer be required to give 
bonds in the" sum of forty thousand dollars, and this appointment 
shall take effect upon the approval of the same, by this board." 

Upon the receipt of the intelligence the board ordered the safe 
to be opened, but the an-ival of J. W. Norris , the vice-president 
of the safe company with Cyrus Wellington, the matter for a while 
came to a halt. It would seem a's if the safe belonged to the 
Diebold safe company. It was locked with a Sargent time lock, 
but. the latter had been tampered with, and would not open. 
After Mr. Norris arrived, he served a notice upon the board of 
supervisors of the couny, that they must not open the safe, until 
they had purchased the same, and the price was affixed as being 
$1500. The board however would not be "bull dt)zed," and after 
much discussion a contract was entered into by and between the 
said b.oard and Norris, the latter to open the safe, lor the sum of 
two hundred dollars, if it could be done without breaking it, and 
four hundred dollars if it had to be forced, if the latter, he was to 



364 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

rej)air and put in as good sliape as before. He tried for a long 
time to open it, using all his skill, but in vain, he then returned 
to Chicago, and brought with him after the absence of several 
days, a skilled workman with tools, who proceeded to force the 
safe. On Jul}^ 20th the door yielding to the effort stood wide 
open and the eyes of the board on investigation, beheld an empty, 
or nearly so, money drawer. A rigid examination of the books of 
the treasurer revealed the extent of the defalcation to be S18500.66. 
The board immaiiately took measures to attach the property 
of Kyte, both real and personal. This amounted to the sum of 
about $6000. leaving the bondsmen to pay the difference of 
$12000, and the attorney of the county was directed to bring suit 
against them to recover that amount. On a search being institu- 
ted for the bond it was found to be missing and the parties, whose 
names wore supposed to have been affixed thereon, set up a claim, 
that they had signed no such bond. So the matter rested for a short 
time, but the search for the missing document was diligently 
prosecuted and at last was crowned with success. The paper was 
found and was immediately placed in the hands of the legal lights, 
who rei)resented the county, for them to commence suit. Dire 
was the dismay of the disgusted bondsigners for it meant financial 
ruin to many of them. The board, at an adjourned meeting June 
24th, 1878 (the matter having run along until then,) were pre- 
sented with a petition, signed by 1445 voters of the county, re- 
questing the honorable board of supervisors of Howard county, "to 
comiDromise the matter between the county and the bondsmen of 
Kyte and to withdraw the suits now pending between the county 
and them, and settle the matter between the parties on such terms 
as may be just to the county without involving the financial ruin 
off-aid bondsmen." As two-thirds of the said petitioners seemed 
to think that $5000 was the proper sum at which to adjust and 
settle the same, the board resolved, that they would accept the 
sum of $500 in cash to defray expenses the county had been put 
to, and $5000 in equal installments, payable in one, two and three 
years after date, the bondsmen to give their notes for the same, 

for the benefit of the defalcation fund of the county. This seemed 

to the board, as more nearly to approximate to the wishes of the 

most of the petitioners, and 

"Whereas the following named bondsmen of Frank Kyte, J. F. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 365 

Donahngh, Sardis Sutton, W. E. Roche, C. Genshaw, T. J. De 
Lange, P. Meighan, John Miltz, P. Peterson, Patrick Brady, 
Thomas Sullivan and William Burke, have signified their assent 
to settle on the basis above; 

Resolved, That the board of supervisors of Howard county, 
accept and settle as above, taking security for the faithful perfor- 
mance thereof," and ordering that all suits against the gentlemen 
be withdrawn, except as against A. D. Wright, against whom 
judgment had already been obtained. The matter was settled 
upon this basis and here the affair closed, and although the county 
was the loser still it was better to compromise than by a strict 
construction of the law to plunge into despair so many innocent 
families. Further whereabouts of the absconding treasurer is totally 
unknown, and let us draw around his act the same charitable 
mantle of oblivion; we know not the temptation that beset him 
— that led to the fatal action that blasted a life full of promise — 
that broke up a happy home. Let us not apologize for the crime, 
but pity and regard with charity, the criminal. 

The court house association having rebuilt the building, used 
for county purposes, in what is known as coiirt-house square, in 
the year 1880. Again tendered, to the board of supervisors, the 
use of the same for the use of Howard county officials and as a 
court room, free of any charge for as long a term as the said county 
would continue to use it for such purpose. This new building was 
-erected in 1879, but was not finished until the early part of 1880. 
The board accepting the offer moved the records, books, etc. of 
the county, together with the furniture and fixtures of the various 
officers of the county from the house of A. D. Wright, which they 
had occupied as a temporary expedient, to the new court house, 
where they now remain. 

"By resolution of the board, bids were asked for attendence on 
the sick poor of the county, and on receipt of the same. 1880, 
the contract was awarded to Dr. O. N. Hoyt for the yearly stipend 
■of S125. 

By a report of the county treasurer, made January 1st, 1881, 
we find the funds of the county in the following condition. 

General county fund on hand $ 351 39 

State " " " 1137 47 

War-defense bond" " « 51 85 



366 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



County school " " " 1050 17 

Bridge " " " 179 19 

Insane " " " 1024 62 

Bond " " " 2076 96 

Permanent school " " " 1402 93 

Temporary " " " " 1857 99 

Apportionment " " " 192 09 

Total '..... $9324 66 

At the June session of the board of supervisors, in and for 
Howard county, instructed the auditor to advertise for Ijids for 
the erection and equipment of a county jail, and also for a place 
of residence, for the sheriff of the county, to be attached thereto- 
and appropriated some $4500 for the same. The auditor obeyed 
the order, but on opening the bids, the board decided, that none 
of them were satisfactory. They therefore undertook to build the 
said jail and residence themselves. A. G. Hubbard being ap- 
pointed commissioner to superintend the work thereon and carry 
out the instructions of the board in relation to them. For a 
description of tlijse building refer to chapter six devoted 
county buildings. 







HISTOEY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 367 



CHAPTER III. 



Returns of Every Election Held in the County From Its 
Organization to the Present Time; Vote Cast for Each 
Candidate; Names, Etc. 



The election returns for some of the earlier years are entirely- 
wanting, and for many others are very imperfect but we give below 
all that seemed to be authentic. The first election, after the or- 
ganization of the county ,was in 

1855, 
and was held on the first Monday of August, James G. 'Upton 
being elected county judge; Edmund Gillett, clerk; William Wood- 
ward, recorder and treasurer; John Harlow, Sheriif; M. V. Burdick 
prosecuting attorney. 

1856. 
James G. Upton, was elected county judge; E. Gillett, clerk of 
courts, F. N. Jewett, treasurer and recorder; John Harlow, Sheriff; 
John F. Mitchell, coroner; John C. Miles, county surveyor. 

1857. 
Edward Gillett,seems to have been acting as county judge,during 
the spring of this year, and James G. Upton the balance, Avith 
Gillett as clerk; John Harlow, as sheriff, and William Woodward, 
recorder; no records exist of any election, but these are taken from 
some legal papers of this date, which bear the signatures as above. 



368 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

1858. 

C. E. Brown,seems to have been county superintendent of schools 
previous to this year, but no record exist, to show that such is a 
fact, except some records of payment to him, as salary in that 
capacity. At the election held this year. James G. Upton, was 
elected county judge; H. A, Cook, treasurer and recorder; H. Greer 
surveyor; C. E. Brown, county superintendent of schools; James 
H. B. Harris, clerk of the courts, (this seems to be an error, but is 
Bo recorded). 

1859. 

James G. Upton, county judge; Edmund Gillett, clerk of the 

courts; H. A. Cook, treasurer and recorder; James Carpenter, 

sheriff. 

1860 

Darius Seeley, elected county judge; James H. B. Harris, clerk 
of the courts; A. M. Cowan, treasurer and recorder; C. E. Brown^ 
superintendent of schools; P. T' Searles, sheriff; Laban Hassett, 
county surveyor. 

Board of supervisors to serve for year 1861, J. W. Barrel, G. W. 
Ostrander, T. R. Perry, T. Griffm, S. W. Seeley, J. H. Boggess, S. 
Radford, M. Niles, C. M. Munson, W. Strother, C. A. Salmon and 
S. L. Cary. 

1861. 

At the election, held in the early spring, this year, *the first record 
is made, of the amount of votes polled, which is 410. 

D. W. Owen, was elected county judge; E. W. Allen, clerk of the 
courts; on the question of donating the swamp lands to the 
northern Iowa railroad 384 votes were cast in lavor of it, and 24 
against. Thos. Griffin, E. V. White, H. D. Noble, J. H. Boggess, 
W. D. Darrow, J.T. Mitchell, J. E. Bennett, were elected members 
of the board of supervisors; Adam Fussell, county superintendent 
and P. T. Searles, sheriff. 

This year the time of holding the election was changed, and an 
election ordered in accordance with the new order of things; this 
was held 

Octobers, 1861. 
Total number of votes cast, 567, Samuel J.Kirkwood receiving 285, 
and William H. Merritt 251, and scattering 31 for governor; 
Ralph P. Lowe 253, Ralph Lowe 67 and James M. Elwood 256, fo^ 



HISTOEY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 369 

judge of supreme court; J. R. Needham 312 and Lawson Dewey 
255, for lieutenant governor; D. G. Frisbee 283, S. L. Gary 247 
and T. W. Sanders 9, for representative to the legislature. 

C. E. Berry 296, Edmund Gillett 260, and 2 scattering, for 
county judge. * 

Austin M. Cowan 312, and A. M. Van Leuvan 241, for treasurer 
and recorder. 

P. T. Searles, receiving all the votes, 566, for sheriff. 

Laban Hassett, 327, and Joseph Knowlton, 233, for county sur- 
vey or. 

Adam Fussell 233, J. W. Reed 214, and C. E. Brown 114, for 
county superintendent. 

J. W. Baird 302 and T. W. Sanders 265, for coroner. 

C. F. Webster 323, Michael O'Donnell 195 for clerk of courts. 

H. D. Noble, J. F. Webster, Gardner Howe, G. W. Ostrander, 
C. W. Fields and A. G. Hubbard, were also elected members of the 
board of supervisors. 

October 13, 1863. 

The total vote of the county this year was 647 ,of which William 
M. Stone received 403 and James M. Tuttle 244 for Governor; 
Enoch W. Eastman 408 and James F. Duncomb 241 for Lieut. 
Governor. 

James F. Dillon, 408 to Chas. Mason 242, for Judge of the Su- 
preme Court. 

Thos. R. Perry 397 and T. M. Atherton 245 for Representative 
from 52d district. 

J. G. Patterson 408 and N. M. Wilder 241 for state senator. 

C. E. Berry 397 and H. A. Goodrich 250 for county judge. 

A. W. Cowan 416 and Chas Brownell 220 for treasurer and 
recorder. 

P. T. Searles 416 and P. G. Nichols 227, for sheriff; Laban 
Hassett 409 and Joseph Knowlton 236, for county surveyor. 

J. J. Clemmer 406 and S. Herrick 240 for coroner. 

Darius Seeley 407 and W. S. Pettibone 239, for drainage com- 
missioner. 

For donating the swamp lands to McGregor Western railroad 
604, against, 18. 

The members of the board of supervisors elected were W. D. 



370 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

Darrow, A. M. Van Lsuvan, Darius Seeley, H. A. Goodrich, Thos. 
Griffin and L. A. Russell. 

October 8, 1864. 

The whole vote cast numbered 639. The Iowa republican pres- 
idential electors receiving 419 and the democratic 220 votes. 

J. C. Cole 421, his opponent 221, for the office of judge of the 
supreme court. 

James Wright 421, and John H. Wallace 220, for secretary of 
state. 

John A. Elliott 421, and E. 0. Hendershott 220, for state auditor; 

Wni. H. Holmes 421, and I. B. Lash 220, for state treasurer. 

E. A. Allen 421, and Chas. W. Dunbar, 220 for attorney genera"". 

Josiah A. Harvey received 421, B. D. Holbrook 220, for register 
of state land office. 

For congressman, William B. Allison polled 421, to B. B. Rich- 
ards' 221. 

Aaron Kimball had 458, and J. AVhite 261, for clerk of the courts. 

S. W. Seeley 456, and G. W. Fall 265, for county recorder. 

Smith W. Seeley 454, and G. W. Fall 262, for county judge. 

W. D. Darrow, A. M. VanLeuvan, Darius Seeley, H. A. Good- 
rich, Thomas Griffin and L. A. Russell were also elected members 
of the board of county supervisors. 

October 10, 1865. 

At the election held this date there were 635 votes polled for 
governor, of which William M. Stone received 353, and Thomas H. 
Benton 282. 

For lieutenant governor, B. F. Gue 362, and W. W. Hamilton 
received 276. 

Forjudge of the supreme court, Geo. G. Wright 363, and H. H. 
Trimble 276. 

■ For superintendent of public instruction, 0. Faville had 365 to 
J. W. Sennett 270. 

For representative, 54th district, D. W. Poindexter had 343 and 
C. E. Berry 245. 

For county judge, D. 0. Preston had 330 votes, A. D. Combs 
294, scattering 3. 

For treasurer, J. F. Webster 328, B. D. Everingham 305. 

The other officers elected being, J. F. Powell, sheriff; J. J. Clem- 
mer, coroner; P. N. Glathart, surveyor, and T. W. Lee, county 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 371 

superintendent of schools. For members of the board of super- 
visors, C. E. Ashley, C. T. Thurber, J. H. St. John, H. A. Good- 
rich, E. I. Isabell and L. A. Russell. 

Special election, October, 1865. 

• On the question of extending the time in the contract with the 
McGregor Western railroad, total vote cast 232; "for extension," 
212; "against extension," 20. 

On the question of giving said railroad the entire benefit of the 
ewamp lands of Howard county; "for," 149; "against," 70; blank, 
13. Albion and Howard townships held no election. 

October 9, 1866. 

At this election there were 656 votes polled, of which S. G. Van 
Anda received 221, and E. D. Wright, 435 for secretary of state; 
John A. Iillliott, 435, and Robert W. Cross, 231 for state auditor; 
S. E. Rankin, 435, and George A. Stone, 221 for state treasurer; F. 
E. Bissell, 435, and W. Ballingall, 221 for state attorney; C. C. Car- 
penter, 435, and L. P. Mc Kinney, 222 for register of state land 
office; C. Linderman, 435, and Fred. Gottschalk, 222 for clerk of 
the supreme court. 

For representative to congress William B. Allison received 439 
votes, and Reuben Noble, 229; for district judge, Milo McGlathery 
received 654, there being no opposition, and for district attorney 
the vote stood L. 0. Hatch, 341, John T. Clark, 305, W. R. Mead, 
1, D. O. Preston, 1; for clerk of courts, Aaron Kimball received 
507, T. W. Lee, 141, and William -H. Patterson, 2; for county 
recorder, William H. Patterson had 507, C. W. Sawyer, 133, and 
Aaron Kimball, 2. 

Members of the board of supervisors elected at the same time 
were: A. N. Harris, Truman Robinson, S. A. Stone, P. T. Searles, 
I. C. Chamberlain, Thos. Griffin, and Wm. Burleigh. 

October 8, 1867. 
Total number of votes polled, 953. Samuel Merrill receiving 
613, and Chns. Mason, 339 for governor; John Scott, 616, and D. 
M. Harris, 279 for lieutenant governor; J. M. Beck, 516, and John 
H. Craig, 337 for judge of the supreme court; Henry O'Conner, 
616, and W. F. Barker, 337 for attorney general; D. F. Wells, 616, 
and Maturin L. Fisher, 337 for superintendent of public instruc- 
tion, for the full term, and for the same to fill vacancy, D. F. 
Wells received 255 votes, and M. L. Fisher, 92. 



872 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

For state senator, 46th district, J. G. Patterson received 57& 
votes, his opponent, A. G. Case, tallying but 332. For representa- 
tive, 56th district, J. H. Brown received 581, and G. W. Barker, 
329 votes; for county treasurer M. M. Moon had 536, J. F. Webster, 
422, and "scattering," 1. 

For county judge, D. O. Preston received 552, C. F. Brecken- 
ridge, 382 votes, with a scattering of 2; J. F. Powell, 621, and 
G. W. Ostrander, 330 for sheriff; T. W. Lee, 598, and H. W. 
Partch, 346 for superintendent of county schools; P. N. Glathart 
being elected surveyor with a vote of 557, while his opponent, 
Laban Hassett, received but 399; J. J. Clemmer was re-elected 
coroner by a vote of 480 to H. C. Price's 472. 

November, 1868. 

The Iowa presidential electors for U. S. Grant received 674 votes,. 
and those for Horatio Seymour, 380, the total vote being 1054. 
For secretary of state, Ed. Wright had 673, and David Hammer, 
381; John A. Elliott received 673, and Harvey Dunlevy, 381 lor 
the office of state auditor; Samuel E. Rankin, 673, and Lawrence 
McCarty, 381 for state treasurer; C. C. Carpenter, 673, and A, 
Davidson, 381. for register of the state land office. 

For representative in congress, from the 3d district, W. B. 
Allison received 667 votes, William Mills, 381, and L. A. 
Thomas, 1. 

For judge of the circuit court, M. V Burdick had 673, and E. 
M. Farns worth, 380 votes; Wm. H. Patterson received 774, and 
Gustave Dorr 359 votes for county recorder; S. A. Stone, 623, A. 
M. Gregory, 411, and W. H. Patterson, 1, for clerk of the courts. 

On the stock act, 555 "for," and 180 "against." 

On the question in regard to levying a tax to purchase a "poor 
farm," the vote stood: 92 "for the tax," and 709 "against the tax." 

On the amendments to the state constitution, 618 were in favor, 
and 41 2 against the proposed measure. 

October 12, 1869. 

The total number of votes polled at this election was 840. 

Samuel Merrill received 534, and George Gillaspy, 304 for 
Governor; Madison M. Walden, 530, and V. P. Richardson, 310 
for lieutenant Governor, 

John F. Dillon, 530, and W. F. Brennon, 307, for judge of the 
supreme court. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 373 

A. S. Kissell received the full vote of 532 for the office of super- 
intendent of public instruction, there being no opposition. 

C. T. Granger received 454 votes, and W. R. Mead, 295, for 
district attorney. 

A. S. Faville received 409 votes and T. M. Atherton, 120, for 
member of legislature. 

C. S. Thurber defeated his opponent, D. B. Everingham, for the 
office of county auditor, by a vote of 529 to 310 

M. M. Moon received 568 votes, and James Hall, 259 votes, for 
county treasurer. 
For sheriff the vote stood: J. F. Hall, 479, and J. DeNoyelles, 354. 

Patrick Griffin having 301, C. F. Breckenridge, 527, and T. W. 
Lee, 1 vote for superintendent of county schools. 

J. J. Clemmer, 521, W. F. Daniels, 307, and "scattering," 1, for 
coroner. 

The members of the board of supervisors elected were: John 
Shaw, Thomas Sullivan, James Oakley, N. Lydon, H. W. Partch, 
P. T. Searles, and Joseph Burgess. 

October, 1870. 

There were 749 votes polled, in all, in this election, C. C. Cole 
received 498, J. C. Knapp, 235, forjudge of supreme court; W. E. 
Miller, 511, P. H. Smythe, 234, for judge of supreme court to fill 
the vacancy caused by the declension of John F. Dillon; J. G. 
Day, 509, Reuben Noble, 240, for judge of supreme court, to fill 
the vacancy caused by the resignation of George G. Wright. 

For auditor of state, John Russell received 511, and W. M. 
Garner, 234 votes. 

'For secretary of state, Ed. Wright had 514, and Charles Doerr, 
231 votes. 

For state treasurer, S. E. Rankin polled 511 votes, and William 
C. James, 234. 

Henry O 'Conner received 510, and H. M. Martin, 234 votes for 
attorney general. 

On member of congress the vote stood W. G. Donnan, 509, John 
T. Stoneman, 238. 

For judge of the district court, Milo McGlathery polled all the 
votes, 513. 

C. T. Granger had the same luck and polled 513 votes for 
district attorney. 



374 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

For clerk of the com'ts, S. A. Stone received 535 votes, while 
David Geer only polled 219. 

W. H. Patterson received 557 votes, and P. G. Nichols, 184 for 
county recorder. 

For county supervisors, Aaron Kimball with 515, Chas. H. 
Wood, 447, and D. E. Potter, 558, were declared elected, defeating 
■ D. B. Everingham, who had 302, R. S. S. Andros, 227, and August 
Fallgater, 190. 

On the proposition, "Hhall there be a convention to revise the 
constitution of the state, and amend the same," "yes," 100; "No," 
427. 

On the proposition, "Shall the number of the supervisors be in- 
, creased to five," "Yes," 235; "No," 379. 

On tlie stock act of the 12th general assembly there were 127 
votes cast, of which 114 were "against," and 13 "for." 

October, 1871. 

Total vote polled, 1,030; C. C. Carpenter receiving 659, and J. C. 
Xnnpp, 371, for governor. 

H. C. Bulis, 658, and M. M. Ham, 372, for the office of lieut. 
■goveri)()r. , 

For judge of supreme court, James G. Day, 659, and John F. 
Dunconil), 369 votes. 

For superintendent of public instruction, Alonzo Abernathy 
received 659, and Edward Mumm, 370 votes. 

For state senator, John E. Burke received 636, and L. H. Weller 
377 vot<'S. 

For representative in the legislature, W. W. Blackman, 654, and 
C^a'us I'\)reman 374 votes. 

M. ]M. Moon was elected by a nearly unanimous vote to the 
office of county recorder. 

C. S. Thurljer received 656, and Joseph Knowlton 366 votes for 
county auditor. 

J. T. I'owell was elected sheriff, he having 588 votes to his 
opponent's J. DoNoyelles, 445, with a scattering of 4. 

C. F. Breckenridge received 582, James Greenleaf, 370, P. N. 
'■ ■Glatlinrt, 1, and C. Breckenridge 18 votes for the olfice^f county 
su])erintondent. , 

J. J. Clemmer wns re-elected over all competitors, having 677 
votes out of 70S, for coroner. 



HLSTOIIY OF HOWAKD UjUNTY. 375 

P. N. Glathart was elected Ijy O.jO votes to the ollice of county 
surveyor, there being no opposition. 

For member of board of supervisors, A. B. Smedley received 
692, Joseph Lee, 181, John Wolf, 18, and "scattering" 2 votes. 

November, 1872. 

Out of a totqj vote of 1,046 the Iowa republican presidential 
electors received 772 votes, and the vote for the democratic electors 
avejages 180. 

For secretary of state the vote stood: Josiah F. Young, 708, E. 
A. Gilbert, 161, and Charles liaricer, 42. 

John Uussell received 688 to J. P. Cassedy's 248 votes, for state 
auditor. 

For state treasurer William Christy received 768, W. J. Ituss, 
148, and I). I',. Bens, 42 votes. 

For congress, H. 0. Pratt polled 689, and A. T. Lusch 225 votes. 

For judge of circuit court C. T. Granger received 721 votes, 
there being no opposition. 

For clerk of the courts S. A. Stone polled 813 votes, tliere being 
no opposition. 

For member of the board of supervisors, P. T. Searles had 773, 
and II. C. Marsh, 237 votes. 

For county recorder the vote was: Wm. M. Patterson, 834, and 
H, Price, 37. 

October, 1873. 

The number of votes polled at this election was 1,265. 

ITor governor, C. C. Carpenter received 1,232, J. G. Vail, 30, and 
scattering, 3 votes. 

For lieut. governor Joseph Dysart received l,li36, C. K. Whitney, 
27, and Fred. O'Donnell, 2 votes. 

Forjudge of supreme court J. M. Beck received 1,232, and B.J. 
Hall, 28- votes. 

For superintendent of public instructions, A. Abernathy, 1,237, 
and D. W. Prindle, 28. 

For state senator, Hiram Bailey, received 938 votes, and A. J. 
Felt, 335. 

H. A. Goodrich received 766, J. F. Borthwick, 548, and "Gosh," 
1, for legislature. 

O. J. Clark received 1225 lor prosecuting attorney. 



376 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

The vote on county auditor was very close, "Jerry" Barkei 
receiving 656, W. W. White, 651, with one vote for Frank Kyte. 

For county treasurer M. M. Moon had 620, Frank Kyte, 674> 
with a scattering of two votes. 

C. B. Ashley polled 589, and D. Ackerson 694 votes for the 
office of sheriff. , 

For superintendent of county schools, 0. N. Hoyt received 641, 
and A. Craig, 622 votes. 

Emmett Barber received 641, and Laban Hassett, 673 votes for 
county surveyor. 

H. C. Price received 696, and J. W. Reed, 602 votes for coroner. 

The vote on supe^'visor to fill vacancy stood: S. Radford, 558, 
and S. S. Lambert, 759, and for the long term, W. W. Woodward, 
612, and Thomas Griffin, 701. 

October, 13, 1874. 

An election was held this day, at which 1,129 votes were polled. 

Josiah F. Young receiving 778, David Morgan 350, and H. C. 
Hargis, 1, for secretary of state. 

Buren R. Sherman received 1,045, and J. M. King, 81, for state 
auditor. 

William Christy, 778, J. W. Barnes, 282, and H. C. Hargis, 67 
for state treasurer. 

David Secor, 730, R. H. Rondame, 272, and J. D. Hayes, 1, for 
register of the state land office. 

M. E. Cutts, 730, and J. H. Keatley, 351, for attorney general. 

For congress, H. O. Pratt received 369 votes, John Bowman, 
749, and P. Nolan, 1. 

Milo McGlathery with 337, and Reuben Noble with 749 were 
the contestants for the office of judge of the district court. 

0. J. Clark polled 400, and G. L. Faust,. 720 votes, for district 
attorney. 

C. F. Webster was elected clerk of the courts, having 516 votes, 
while his opponents, W. S. Gardner, and J. F. Powell, had, 
respectively, 475 and 130. 

The vote for recorder stood: W. H. Patterson, 706, P. Velie, Jr., 
402, and Miss Lillie Bucknum, 17. 

For member of the board of supervisors, James Oakley defeated 
his competitor, having 602 votes, and H. C. Cunningham, 402. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 377 

October, 12, 1875. 

On the question, "Shall stock be restrained from running 
at large," the vote stood, 361 "for," and 585 "against," in a total 
vote of 946. 

On the question, "Shall stock be restrained from running at 
large from sunset to sunrise," 832 votes are registered as "for" the 
restraint, and 114 "against." 

For governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood received 882, and S. Leffler, 
477 votes. 

For lieut. governor, Joshua G. Newbold received 880, and E. B. 
Woodward, 480 votes. 

Austin Adams received 878, and W. J. Knight, 481 votes, for 
judge of supreme court. 

Alonzo Abernethy received 879, and Isaiah Doane, 23, for 
superintendent of public instruction. 

For representative, 64th district, Henry T. Reed polled 884, and 
and Henry A. Goodrich, 472 votes. 

Jerry Barker was re-elected county auditor, having 920 votes, 
his competitor, G. W. Merry, having only 434, with a single 
scattering vote. 

Frank Kyte was almost unanimously alected to fill the treas- 
urer's office, the vote standing, Kyte, 1,330, D. E. Potter, 3, P. T. 
Searles, 5,''and Peter Nolan, 1. 

For sheriff, Samuel L. Thomson polled 675, David H. Acker- 
son, 558, and Hugh Price, 127 votes. 

Osmand N. Hoyt had 738, T. W. Lee, 606, and A. H. Tuttle, 1 
vote for superintendent of schools. ' 

Laban Hassett's friends rallied to the tune of 785, while 
Michael Montague's only numbered 565, with a scattering of 6 
votes, electing Mr. Hassett once more to the office of county 
surveyor. 

For coroner, James McCollum had 835, and H. C. Price, 528 
votes. 

Alonzo G. Hubbard was elected member of the board of super- 
visors with 727 votes in his favor, his opponent, S. S. Lambert 
having only 632. 

November 7, 1876. 

The total vote was 1,815, of which the Hayes and Wheeler 



378 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. * 

electors received 1,194 votes, the Tilden and Hendricks electors 
600, while the Cooper (greenback), electors only had 21. 

For judge of the supreme court, for full term, W. H. Seevers 
received 1,201, W. M. Graham, 599, and W. I. Hayes, 20 votes; 
for the same to fill the vacancy created by chapter 7, acts of the 
16th general assembly, James H. Rothrock had 1,168, Walter I. 
Hayes, 599, and Wm. Graham, 9; and for the same office to fill 
the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. C. Cole, Wm. H. 
Seevers polled 1,171, and Walker I. Hayes 629 votes. 

Josiah T. Young had 1201, James H. Stenbenraugh 614, and A. 
McCready 15 votes, for secretary of state. 

Buren R. Sherman 1201, William Gronewig 622, and Leonard 
Brown 15 votes, for state auditor. 

Geo. W. Bemis 1201, Wesley Jones 615, and George C. Fry 15, 
for state treasurer. 

David Secor 1201, N. C. Ridenver 624, and George M. Walker 
13, for register of the state land office. 

John T. McJunkin 1201, and J. C. Cook 629, for attorney gene- 
ral. 

Carl W. Von Coelln 1201, and J. A. Nash 629, for superinten- 
dent of public instruction to fill vacancy. 

For congressman, N. C. Deering polled 1188 and Cyrus Foreman 

649. 

C. T. Granger received 1199 votes for circuit judge' there being 

no opposition. 

Calvin F. Webster capturing the office of clerk of the courts, 
having 1251 while Edward Hughes had 535 with a scattering vote 
of 14. • 

William H. Patterson polled 1,261, and W. H. Mereness, 525 
votes, for county recorder. 

For member of the board of supervisor we find that D. T. Em- 
mons received the suffrages of 1,191 electors, while L. Averill, re- 
ceived 599, with a scattering of 11. 

On the question of relocating the county seat at Cresco, the vote 
stood "for Cresco" 800, "against Cresco and in favor of old loca- 
tion between the villages of Vernon Springs and New Oregon," 
969. 

October 9, 1877. 

The total vote was 1918, this election of which John H. Gear 



HISTOEY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 3&1 

received 551, D. P. Stubbs, 201, Elias Jessup, 519, and John P. 
Irish, 647, for governor. 

Frank T. Campbell, 1030, A. McCready, 249, and W. C. James, 
647 for the office of Lieut-governor. 

James G. Day, 1,029, John Porter, 253, and H. E. J. Boardman, 
647, for judge of supreme court. 

Carl Von Cffilln, 1,029, S. T. Ballard, 254, and G. W. CuUison, 
646, for superintendent of public instruction. 

For state senator, Aaron Kimball received 1,045, and L. H. 

Weller, 839 votes. 

C. E. Brown polled 933, Thomas Griffin, 479, and August 
Fallgatter, 481, for representative 66th district. 

John E. Peck with 977 votes, defeated Jerry Barker, who had 
927, for the office of county auditor. 

To fill the vacancy in the treasurer's office, Patrick Griffin re- 
ceived 918, J. F. Borthwick, received 806, and W. H. Merenes, 13 
votes. 

For county treasurer for full term Patrick Griffin received 1,026, 
J. F. Borthwick, 771, and W. H. Mereness, 123 votes. 

Samuel L. Thomson polled 966, Hugh Price, 636, H. A. Axtell, 
324, and '"scattering" one vote for sheriff, P. N. Glathart being 
elected county surveyor by a vote of 1.028, his opponent Lahan 
Hassett having only 891. 

For county superintendent of schools, 897 votes given for W. 
H. Brocksome elected him, his competitors receiving respectively 
Joseph C. Kellow, 755, and Florence Barnard, 229 votes. 

James McCollum capturing the office of coroner with 1010 votes, 
J. W. Reed receiving only 689, and C. E. Bowers received 199 
votes. 

For member board of supervisors, James Oakley received 
1,053, I. C. Chamberlain, 832, and B. Chapin, 56, with one "scat- 
tered." 

On the question "shall stock be restrained from running at 
large," the vote stood "for 837," "against restraint" 409. 

October 8, 1878. 

At the general election this year there were 1,968 votes cast, 
John A. T. Hull receiving 937, E. M. Farnsworth 1,030, blank one 
for secretary of state. 



382 HISTORY OP HOWARD COUNTY. 

Buren R. Sherman, 934, and Joseph Eibeck, 1,034 for state 
auditor. 

George W. Bemis, 849, and M. L. Devine, 1,036, for state treas- 
urer. 

James K. Bowers, 934, and M. Farrington, 1,033 for register 
Btate land office. 

James Rothrock, 933, and Joseph C. Knapp, 1,033, for judge 
supreme court. 

John M. McJunkin, 932, and Alexander Runyon, 1,034, for at- 
torney-general. 

For congressman N. C. Deering, 939, L. H. Weller, 1,012, scat- 
tering, 4. 

For judge of the District court, 0. J. Clark, 551, and Reuben 
Noble 1,406. 

Robert Quigley, 875, Cyrus Wellington, 1,086, and 0. J. Clark 
2 for district attorney. 

C. F. Webster being elected clerk of the courts with 1,159, his 
competitor C. M. Brooks, receiving but 709 votes. 

William H. Patterson, having 1637 and R. J. Hazledine, 305 
votes the former was declared elected county recorder. 

For member ot the board of supervisors the vote stood A. G. 
Hubbard, 1,075, and H. P. Marsh, 874. 

October 14, 1879. 

Total vote polled was 2,243, John H. Gear, 1,059, Daniel Camp- 
bell, 1,144, W. H. Trimble, 28, and D. R. Dungan, 12 votes for 
governor. 

Frank T. Campbell, 1,071, M. H. Moore, 1,128, and J. A. 0. 
Yeoman, 27, for Lieut, governor. 

Joseph M. Beck, 1,069. M. H. Jones, 1,115, and Reuben Noble, 
41, for judge of the supreme court. 

Carl Von Cffilln, 1,060, J. A. Nash, 1,140, and Erwin Baker, 27, 
for superintendent of public instruction. 

For representative to legislature the vote standing Charles D. 
Cutting, 961, S. S. Lambert, 1,227, and J. J. Lowry one. 

For sheriff S. L. Thomson had 1,106, Jacob J. Lowry, 1,122, 
S. B. Johnson, 1, and James Thomson, 1. 

C. S. Raymond received 897, John E. Peck, 1,329, and P. T. 
Searles one vote for the office of county auditor. 

Fred C. Clark was elected superintendent of schools by a vote 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 383 

of 1,180 to W. H, Brocksome's, 1,029, with a scattering of four 
votes. 

For coroner, J. McCollum polled 1,057, and H. C. Price, 1,167 
votes, with 3 scattered. 

The vote for member of board of supervisors stood L. F. Em- 
mons, 1,076, and Thomas McCook, 1,143. 

November 2, 1880. 

The full votes for president was 2,024, of which the Garfield 
and Arthur electors received 1,066, the Hancock and English. 
285. and the Weaver and Chambers, 673. 

For secretary of state J. A. T. Hull received 1,066, A, B. Keith, 
281, and George M. Walker, 676 votes. 

For state auditor W. V. Lucas received 1,065, Charles I. Barker, 
281, and G. V. Swearingen, 676. 

For treasurer, E. H. Conger, 1,066, Martin, Blinn, 281, and 
Mathias Farrington, 676. 

J. H. Powers received 1,065, Daniel Daugherty, 279, and Thomas 
Hooker, 676 for register state land office. 

S. M. McPherson, 1,066, C. C. Clark, 279, W. A. Spurrier, 676, 
for attorney-general. 

C. T. Granger polling 1,061 votes with no opposition for the 
office of judge of the circuit court. 

For representive to congress from the fourth district, the vote 
was divided as follows: N. C. Deering, 1,102, J. S. Root, 223, M. 
B,-Doolittle 654, and 11 scattering. 

For judge of the district court E. E. Cooley received 871, 0. J. 
Clark, 1,131, with 6 scattering. 

C. F. Webster was elected clerk of the courts having 1,230 votes, 
and W. F. Daniels, 782, with 2 scattering. 

W. H. Patterson taking the office of recorder, having 1,101, hia 
rival, Jerry Barnes scoring only 782. 

On the question of having a constitutional convention, 548 were 
in favor and 288 against the measure. 

October 11, 1881. 

At the election held on this date the total vote of the county 
polled was 1,469, Buren R. Sherman receiving 749, D. M. Clark, 
678 and L. G. Kinne 42, for governor. 

Orlando H. Manning, 749, J. M. Holland, 620, J. H. Holland, 
58, and J. M. Walker, 42, lieut. governor. 



384 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

Austin Adams, 749, W. W. Williamson 678 and H. B. Hender- 
shott, 42, forjudge of the supreme court. 

John W. Akers, 745, Adeline M. Swain, 676, and Walter H. 
Butler, 45, for superintendent of public instruction. 

For state senator, C. A. Marshall received 747, M. F. Gillett, 
714, and "scattering" one vote. 

For representative 66th district, W. R. Jones had 695 votes, 
while S. S. Lambert received 657. 

John E. Peck was barely elected county auditor having 735 
votes, while P. T. Searles had 724, and 5 votes scattered. 

The vote on treasurer was also very close, Charles I. White re- 
ceiving 728, and his competitor, P. Griffiin, 722, and 5 votes scat- 
tered. 

J. J. Lowry was elected sheriff, having 758 votes, and S. L. 
Thomson, 706 votes. 

W. W. Williams received 738, andS. B. Johnson, 709, for county 
surveyor. 

Fred C. Clark, 803, and W. W. Williams, 657, for superinten- 
dent of schools. 

The vote on coroner was another of the closely contested ones 
standing, 0. N. Hoyt, 735, and H. C. Price, 729. 

For member of the board of supervisors, A. G. Hubbard re- 
ceived 757 votes, Patrick Peterson, 703, and "Hubbard" received 
three. 

June 27, 1882. 

This was a special election on the question, shall the constitu- 
tion be amended by adding the following amendment: 

"No person shall manufacture for sale, or sell, or keep for sale, 
as a beverage, any intoxicating liquors, including ale, wine 
or beer. The general assembly shall by law prescribe regulations 
for the enforcement of the prohibition herein contained, and shall 
provide suitable penalties for the violation of the provisions 
thereof." 

The total number of votes cast in Howard county was 1,565, of 
which 730 were in favor of its adoption, and 835 were against the 
measure. 

November, 7, 1882. 

The total vote polled was 1,802, of which John A. T. Hull, re- 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 385 

ceived 747, W. J. Gaston, 988, and T. 0. Walker, 67, for secretary 
of state. 

John L. Brown, 747. G. A. Wyant, 988, and William Thompson 
67, for state auditor. 

Edwin H. Conger, 742. George Derr, 913, and John Foley, 147, 
for state treasurer. 

William H. Seever, 747, M. H. Jones, 988, and C. E. Bronson, 
67, for judge of the supreme court. 

Smith McPherson, 747, James A. Rice, 988, and J. H. Brenner- 
man, 67, for attorney general. 

For congressman, Thomas Updegraff was in receipt of 756, and 
L. H. Weller, 1,026 votes, with five scattering. 

Forjudge of the district court of the 10th judicial district, E. E. 
Cooley polled 930, and L. 0. Hatch, 863 votes. 

For district attorney, H. P. Hancock received 763, Cyrus Wel- 
lington, 1,041, while L. 0. Hatch had one vote. 

William Theophilus with 1,027 in his favor "got away with" 
his competitor, Frank Sayre, for the office of clerk of the courts, 
the latter having only 775 votes. 

Carl K. Berg was equally fortunate having 1,181 votes and Wil- 
liam H. Patterson, 605, for the office of county recorder. 

For member of board of supervisors, the vote stood, James 
Hendricks, 796, Charles Keefe, 998, and scattering 5. 




386 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER IV. 



County Seat Controversy; Removals; Official Action; Final 
Settlement; Present Officers. 



During the summer of 1855, the organization of a county 
government agitated the minds of some of the new settlers, who 
had located themselves on the prairies and in the sylvan groves of 
Howard county, but met with but little favor from the many. 
While the people were but few, and the settlements but feeble, it 
seemed folly for them to burden themselves with the cumbersome 
machinery and expensive luxury of a county government. At 
this time there were probably not more than one hundrad and 
fifty inhabitants, or about sixty or seventy voters residents, in what 
was to be Howard county. And to saddle upon this weak com- 
munity the support of the necessary officers, was not to the mind 
of, possibly, a majority of those who looked ahead. However, a 
petition was signed by some five or six persons, and sent, sub rosa, 
to James Lyon, then judge in Chickasaw county, praying that an 
order be issued from his court to organize the county of Howard 
(for copy of this petition see page 338). Judge Lyon not being 
cognizant with the whole facts, decided to make the order, which 
was accordingly done, and bears the date of July 17, 1855. 



HISTOKY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 387 

The mandate of the judge further recited, that there was to be 
held an election on the first Monday of August, of the same year, 
and appointed Edmund Gillett, one of the most prominent citizens, 
as the sheriff for the purpose of effecting the organization. 

The people, calmly acquiesing in the matter, now that it was 
settled that they were to "enjoy" a county government, went to 
the polls on the day appointed and elected James G. Upton, county 
judge; Edmund Gillett, clerk; William Woodward, recorder and 
treasurer; John Harlow, sheriff, and M. V. Burdick, prosecuting 
attorney. These were the first county officers. 

The next thing was a place of business, or in other words, a 
county seat and a court house. As most of the officers resided at 
or near Vernon Springs, this seemed to be the proper place, but 
the newly born government seems to have been "without a habita- 
tion and a home," until in the following year Judge Upton decided 
that for the time being Vernon Springs was to be considered the 
center of the county rule. 

But other villages were springing into being, and as each of 
these, according to their proprietors and residents, was "the" place 
above all others, for a grand city, all laid claim to the position of 
being the county seat. Land was cheap, and "a good deal of it 
to the acre," and the proprietors were generous in providing for 
the width of the streets, avenues, and alleys of the new towns, and 
each expected metropolitan honors, at least, and each sought to be 
regarded as the seat of government. 

Of these ambitious cities in embryo, how many of them ever 
emerged from the state of chrysalis. In a few short years their 
glory has faded, and all that is remembered of them is the memory 
of their names. 

The stillness of their location, instead of being disturbed by the 
clatter of machinery, resounds but to the voice and footfalls of the 
plowman; the streets and avenues that their projectors fondly 

hoped to see lined with palatial stores, busy factories and stately 

mansions are now filled with the nodding corn or bending wheat, 

and over the site of these would-be commercial and mercantile 

centers, wanders the lowing herds. 

All, or nearly all, have seen their cherished hopes die, and they 



388 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

all lie buried 'neath the debris of accumulated years. In 1857 
the question that seems infallibly to arise in all communities came 
to the front, and the removal of the county seat occupied all 
minds, each town, village, or assemblage of houses, by whatsoever 
name known, had aspirations for the honor of being the recognized 
seat of government. 

Many were the manoeuvres of the early politician to achieve 
notoriety for himself and his town, by bringing to bear upon the 
county judge, who was ex-officio the controller of the county, such 
influence as would induce him to favor the particular cause he 
advocated, and locate the county seat with them. 

However, from some cause or other, in September of that year, 
a command was issued from the office of Judge Upton, and 
countersigned by Edmund Gillett, as clerk, ordering "that the 
records of Howard county be removed from Vernon Springs, in 
said county, to Howard Center, and that the courts of said county 
be hereafter holden at said Howard Center, until otherwise 
ordered." 

This order was obeyed during that fall, and all the records, and 
other paraphernalia of the county officers, generally, was removed 
to that place. Here, however, it rested but for a short while, and 
then set out once more on its travels, reminding one of the 
peripatetic government of the so-called confederacy of later years. 

When the early frosts of Avinter had tinged the groves, at New 
Oregon, with their many-hued garments, and the farmer rested 
from his harvest labors, the dissatisfaction at the removal of the 
government again cropped out, and the community was torn by 
the internecine feud — again the question was agitated with all the 
warmth that such things always engender. Neighborhood was set 

against neighborhood, and peace seemed to flee the land. 

To calm the troubled waters the county judge appointed M. V. 
Burdick, G. N. Holbrook, and George Bronson a committee to 
relocate the county seat at such point as seemed, in their opinion, 
best calculated to please the greatest majority. 

After some investigation in the center of the county these gentle- 
men came to Vernon Springs and New Oregon, then two rising and 
rival villages, near "Oregon Grove." Here they were, of course, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 389 

assailed with the volunteered information that both of these 
places being the center of population, and the largest settlements 
in the county, should of right be the home of the county govern- 
ment. As might be expected, each hamjet upheld its own banner 
and talked for itself. 

The citizens of New Oregon, finally, procured a vehicle to convey 
the commissioners through the surrounding country to demon- 
state to them the truth of their assertion, that their town was the 
center of population, if not that of the geographical county, it 
being well known that the western part of the county was sparsely 
settled. The gentlemen were placed in charge of W. R. Mead, 
then a young lawyer, newly arrived, to show them the vicinity. 
Through ignorance, on which, perhaps, was counted, or through 
calculation, they were driven eastward, crossing into Winnesheik 
county, were shown the thriving farms and settlements of that 
part of the country, as if it was a part of Howard. This seemed 
to satisfy the commission, who never dreamed that all this people 
did not reside in Howard county, and they returned to New 
Oregon, determined to locate the county seat there, but were met 

by the delegation from Vernon Springs, who advocated their 
claim. 

These two, between them perplexed the commission, and after 
a hard wrangle with each, agreed among themselves as to what 
was best to do. A subscription having been started to build a 
court house, it was proposed to the two towns that, as both could 
not have it, and for peace sake, it would not do to give it to either, 
that they (the -commission), would locate the said county seat at a 
place known as Pike's Peak, a bluff equi-distant from both, on the 
main road leading from one to the other, provided the said sub- 
scription should be applied to the building of a court house. 

These terms were accepted, and the place designated was made 
the seat of government. 

The court house was built in February, 1859, at this point, by 
the subscriptions raised by the citizens of both towns, and once 
more "peace spread her pinions o'er the land." 

Thus^ things remained, until in 1865 it was found that, as the 



390 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

building was built of bass wood the elements and the years had 
worked their will with it until it was unsightly aud unsafe. 

We find recorded that at the session of the board of supervisors, 
in September, 1865, the following resolution was passed: 

"Whereas, The building now occupied by the county officers of 
Howard county has become so dilapidated by age, as to render it 
unfit for office purposes, and an unsafe repository for the records 
of said county;" the resolution going on to state that the county 
had been tendered the use of a building, owned by L. L. Halstead, 
and located in the village of Vernon Springs. 

The building was built of stone and was in every way fitted for 
the use of the county, and the board resolved to remove the 
records and fixtures, together with the county officers, to the 
building and town aforesaid — that to be considered the county 
seat and court house. The board met at Vernon Springs for the 
October session, but owing to the opposition of the New Oregon 
people, the offices were not removed thither. At this session the 
offer of Vernon Springs was renewed, but was met by the counter 
offer of New Oregon, who agreed to build a brick court house, and 
give the use of it free to the county. Neither of these propositions 
were accepted, however, by the board, and the offices still remained 
at "the bluff." 

In January, ISGTj'^however, a new rival for the county seat ap- 
peared upon the scene, in the shape of the now growing railroad 
town of Cresco; the rapid rise and progress of which was casting 
into dim shade all the other towns, and whose pretence of claim 
for the county seat was warranted by the fact that it then con- 
tained nearly one-sixth of the i^opulation of the entire county. 

At the session of the board of supervisors, held during this 
month, an intimation was given the board that Cresco aspired to 
the honor of the county government, and in a few days a petition 
was presented, in which was prayed, that the honorable board 

would transfer the offices of the county to their town, and making 
a proposition to erect for the accommodation of the same a build- 
ing of brick and in every way suitable for the purpose intended. 
The board taking the matter under advisement, accepted an in- 
vitation to view the proposed site of the court house, in Cresco, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 391 

and from the best reports handed down by tradition, the county 
fathers evidently had a good time and possibly "saw" the matter 
in its greatest extent. 

However, be that as it may, it was hastily resolved by them to 
accept the offer, and the following was placed upon the records: 

"Resolved, By the board of supervisors of Howard county, that 
the proposition of Messrs. Beadle and others to build a court 
• house and furnish it, free of any expense, to the county, and also 
to provide a hall for the meetings of the board, and for court 
purposes, be and is hereby accepted; the sherifl* is directed to 
remove the records, etc., at the time contemplated, viz: On or 
before June 1, 1867. 

At the June session, again, the board directed the county 
officers "to remove their offices to the building now being con- 
structed by the Howard county court house association in the 
village of Cresco, whenever the committee shall decide to accept it 
as a safe and suitable place for the same." 

This was accordingly done. But, by a legal fiction, the old 
court house, on the bluff, was still regarded as the county seat, 
only the offices and records being moved to Cresco for safety and 
convenience. 

At the September session of the board of supervisors, 1876, the 
following appears upon the minutes: 

"There was presented a petition to relocate the county seat at 
Crescos" 
The board, therefore, issued the following proclamation: 

"To the legal voters of Howard county, Iowa: 

You are hereby notified, that at the regular session of the board 
of supervisors of the county of Howard, Iowa, held at the court 
house in the said county, commencing on the first day of Sep- 
tember, 1876, a petition of over one thousand of the qualified 
electors of said county, was presented to the said board of super- 
visors, asking that the said board order that at the next general 
election, to be held in said county, on November 7, 1876, a vote be 
taken in said county by the qualified electors thereof, upon the 
question of relocating the county seat of said county, which said 



392 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. • 

petition designates Cresco, in said county, as the point at which 
said petitioners desire to have the said county seat relocated, and 
it appearing to the said board that due notice of the presentation 
of such petition to the board of supervisors had been given by 
three insertions in the Iowa Plaindealer, a weekly newspaper, 
published in said count)\ the last of which was more than sixty 
days before the said September meeting of the said board of 
supervisors, and it appearing to the board of supervisors b}- the 
affidavits accompanying tl:ie said petition, that the signers thereof 
were all legal and their ^signatures genuine, and that at least one- 
half the legal voters of said county, as shown by the last preceed- 
ing census, had signed said petition, it was therefore ordered by 
the said board of supervisors that at the next general election to 
be held in said county, on November 7, 1876, the question of re- 
locating the county seat of said county be submitted to the quali- 
fied electors of said county, and that said vote be taken, between 
Cresco, in said county, and the present existing county seat, and 
that the form of the ballot thereof be as follows: 

For the county seat at Cresco; For the county seat at the place 
designated by the commissioners in 1858, about half way between 
the villages of New Oregon and Vernon Springs; of all which you 
will take due notice, and govern yourselves accordingly." 

Thos. Griffin, ') 

James Oakley, >■ Supervisors. 

A. G. Hubbard, j 

On looking up the election returns of November 7, 1876, it will 
be found that, notwithstanding one thousand voters signed the 
petition, some no doubt changing their minds, the vote stood: 800 
in favor of relocating it at Cresco, and 969 against it, or rather in 
favor of retaining it where it was, in no man's land, off on the 
dreary bluff in a tumble down, dilapidated structure, once known 
.as the court house. 

Men now asked themselves the question of what was to be done, 
and many plans were canvassed, but nothing came of it, until 
after the burning of the court house at Cresco, and the re-erection 
of it it was a mooted question. Then was carried into effect the 
most feasible plan, viz: The lines of the incorporated town of 



HISTORY OK HOWARD COUNTY. 



393 



Cresco, on the southern boundary, were extended so as to include 
the old bluff, whose crown lifted heavenward, was the recognized 
seat of government. When this was done, by vote of the board 
the court house was legally moved to the court house square, and 
the present beautiful and commodious building was erected. So 
ended the county seat question, for the time, at least. 

Less acrimony was developed in the conflict of later years than 
is usual in such cases. The present officers (1883), are: John E. 
Peck, auditor; Charles I. White, treasurer; Carl K. Berg, recorder; 
Wm. Theophilus, clerk; J. J. Lowry, sheriff; Fred. C. Clark, 
county superintendent, all of whom may be found at their offices 
in the above building. The present members of the board of 
supervisors are: Charles Keefe, A. G. Hubbard, and James 
Oakley. 




\1 v 



394 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER V. 



Railroads, Their Inception and Completion; Journalism in 
Howard County; Early Newspapers, and Early Adver- 
tisers. 



RAILROAD. 

The various attempts and projects of earlier days to change the 
the roads of mud to that of iron, may be but briefly outlined in 
this chapter. 

The Iowa and Minnesota division of that monster corporation, 
the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, that now crosses 
the county, is simply an out growth of the McGregor Western 
railroad. 

The first account, we find of any attempt to procure a railroad 
is on record, and in the form of a 

proclamation. 
STATE OF IOWA, 



County of Howard '' 



In pursuance of the code of Iowa, and at the request of a por- 
tion of the people, of said county, an election is hereby ordered to 
be held in the several townships in said county of Howard, on the 
third day of August, A. D. 1857, at the places where the last April 
elections were held, to vote upon the question,whetherthe said coun- 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 395 

ty of Howard, shall take $150,000 of the stock of the Northwestern 
railroad comi:)any and issue bonds in payment therefore, bearing 
interest at the rate of ten per cent, per annum; the principal sum 
to be paid in twenty years; and that a tax be levied upon the tax- 
able property of said county, for the payment of interest and 
principal. 

The said railroad company to pay the interest on said bonds, until 
said road is in operation' to the east line of said county of Howard; 
bonds to be issued when said road shall be in operation to 
Decorah, Winnesheik county, and permanently located to the west 
line of Howard county. 

The form of the vote shall be, "for the railroad stock" "against 
the railroad stock." 

Every affirmative vote shall be considered for the proposition 
entire. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
the seal of said county, this first day of July, A. D. 1857. 

James G. Upton, 

[seal.] - County Judge. 

It would seem, from the absence of anything in the records, that 
this scheme was a flash in the pan, that nothing came of it, as the 
Northwestern railroad company never came in the direction indi- 
cated. The matter was dropped until 1863. 

It was at the" September session, of the board of supervisors, of 
the county, that it was jDroposedto submit to the legal electors of the 
county, a proposition to donate all the lands in the county known 
as "swamp lands," to aid in the construction and equipment of 
the McGregor Western railroad, on the condition, that the before 
mentioned railroad build a road from North McGregor westward, 
to intersect the county of Howard, from east to west. 

This was ordered to be voted on by the people of the county at 
the next general election, and the clerk of the board instructed to 
make proclamation in accordance therewith. 

Accordingly at the election, held October 10, 1865, the question 
being placed before the qualified electors of the county, for their 
approval or rejection, the donation was ratified by the people by 
some means which is gathered by subsequent proceedings as the 
election returns show upon their face that they rejected it by a vote 
of 390 to 141,but some error must be in the record, as after develop- 



396 HISTORY OF HOWAED COUNTY. 

merits show that the swamp lands were donated by the board 
about this time. The loosely kept minutes of these early times, 
causes considerable confusion, and leaves much matter to be 
gathered from the context. 

At the Oct., session, we find that the board passed a resolution, 
that the question of extending the time, in which the McGregor 
Western railroad contract to build their road, through Howard 
county, be submitted to the people the railroad company not 
being able to fulfill the said contract, in regard to point of time, 
and also on the question of giving the same railroad the benefit of 
all the swamp lands within the borders of the county. 

In October of the same year, an election being holden for the 
purpose, the vote stood, "for extending time to the McGregor 
Western railroad" 212, against such extension 20 votes. 

On the question of giving the said railroad the entire benefit of 
the swamp lands 149 were in favor and, 70 against the measure. 

It was during the year, 1866, that the McGregor Western, first 
crossed the county line, entering on section twenty-three in Vernon 
Springs township, and instead of fulfilling their engagements, 
with the people of the county, and intersecting the entire county 
from the east to west, turned their line northwest passed out of the 
limits of the county, alter running along, for a short distance on 
the northern boundary, at section ten in the township of Oakdale. 
The number of miles of track, within the bounds of the county 
is, as was then built twenty-four and thirty-four one hundredths 
(24.34) divided as follows: 

Vernon Springs township, including the town of Cresco, 8.49 
miles; Howard Centre township, .25; Forest City township, 6.40; 
Chester township, 6.40; Oakdale township, 2.84. 

This non-fuliillment of their contract by the railroad, seems to 
have been a fruitful source of trouble, the officers and people of 
the county, justly finding fault because the road did not intersect 
the entire county, which was part of the contract, entered into by 
the railroad company. 

It seems that the action of tlie county, in donating these swamp 
lands to the railroad was not entirely legal, and the railroad com- 
pany, in 1868, went to the legislature of the state asking them to 
legalize the action. 

But at a meeting of the board of supervisors, held February 3d, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 399 

1868, a resolution was passed and a petition drawn up in accor- 
dance therewith, praying the legislature, not to pass the bill, then 
before them, legalizing the act of a previous board of supervisors, in 
conveying to the McGregor Western railroad, all the swamp lands 
of the county, on the plea, that the said railroad had failed to 
carry out the provisions of the orginal contract, entered into with 
the peo])le of the county. 

Suit was entered into against the railroad, for a recovery of the 
lands and breach of contract pleaded as the cause, liut in July, 

1869, the matter was adjusted and the suits withdrawn and the 
lands left in possession of the company, the railroad agreeing to 
locate a station at the town of Chester, which condition was 
accordingly carried out and Chester became a depot of the rail- 
road. 

TJie line passed into the possession of its present owners, the 
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad company, shortly after 
the settlement of the above question, and still is owned aud oper- 
ated by them. 

There are four stations within the limits of Howard county, 
viz: Cresco, Bonair, Lime Spring and Chester. 

Two additional railroads are on the tapis and possibly may be 
built in the future, one ascending Crane Creek, and passing 
through the county, nearly in the centre from south to north; the 
other on the natural grade of the " Wapsie" in the western part of 
fhe coiinty in nearly the same direction. 

These roads are as yet in the womb of time, but the general 
impression prevails, that one or both may be built, and that right 
speedily. This would be a considerable help to the county giving, 
them more direct communication with market, and induce the 
settlement of the waste places of the county. 

JOURNALISM 

The Anglo-Saxon,where ever he goes seems instinctively to plant, 
almost the first thing, those mighty engines of civilization, that 
hand-in-hand go down the mighty corridor of time, with resound- 
ing steps — the school and the press. No better index as to the 
state of society — or the thrilt of a community can be found, than 
in the press it supports. Look at the question, and decide the 
matter which way you will, whether the press is the power behind 



400 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

the throne, or simply the mirror of public thought — whether it is 
the leader or follower of opinions of the community, it must be 
conceded that the newspaper does not spontaneously arise in, nor 
thrive on virgin soil, but flourishes in a cultivated garden. 

The press of Howard county is not in this respect one whit 
behind the other counties or in the standard that betrays the cul- 
tnre of the inhabitants. 

The birth of the first newspaper, in Howard county, was an 
event, remembered by all the pioneers. Its initial issue was dated 
February 18, 1858 and was called the ''Howard County Sentinel" 
and was publshed at New Oregon. The proprietorship was vested 
in the Howard county printing association, of which S. M. Oole 
was president; D. D. Sabin, vice president; M. M. Moon, treasurer; 
W. R. Mead, secretary; and James G. Upton, J. F. Mitchell, J.S. 
Lawver, E. W. Allen, George W. Schofield, C. M.Munson, and J. J. 
Clemmer, were directors. The editor was J. Howard Field, one of 
the bright lunnnaries of the journalistic corps, and who was more 
recently, and perhajjs ia now, connected with the staff of the "Chi- 
cago Journal" in an editorial capacity. This paper was neutral 
and independent in politics and religion and was a seven column 
folio and presented a very creditable appearance, both in the 
editorial and mechanical departments. 

The fortunes of this paper were destroyed, with the office, by fire, 
during the year 1859 whereupon the association dissolved and did 
not attempt its resusitation. 

The second paper was ephemeral in its duration, expiring of 
inanition within a year. It was a rival of the above named Senti- 
nel and was established in 1858.* The name was the "North Iowa 
Gazette' and the first issue is dated from Vernon Springs, March 26, 
and was also a seven column paper, owned by Harrison and Peck 
and was democratic in politics. 

Immediately upon the burning of the office of the Sentinel and 
the dissolution of the association, H. Lick and W. K. Mead adven- 
tured their bark upon the stormy seas of pioneer journalism, in 
the form of the "Ncav Oregon Plaindealer",the former as publisher 
and the latter as editor. Shortly after its inception F. J. INIead 
became possessed of the interest of Mr. Lick and the paper was 
then issued under the firm nama of W. R. and F. J. Mead under 
which head it continues at Cresco to this day. It was a straight 



HISTOEY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 401 

democrat sheet until quite lately, it having for some time advo 
cated greenback sentiments. This paper was continued success- 
fully until in May 26, 1867, when it was transferred to the town 
of Cresoo. 

It has a circulation of about a thousand and is well conducted. 
It has also in connection with the newspaper office, a good job de- 
partment, and enjoys a liberal share of the public patronage. W* 
R. Mead still fills the editorial chair and is the terror of evil-doers 
for his pen knows no mercy to the criminal against society and 
law. 

Among the advertisers in the first issues of the Plaindealer in 
1867, on its location at Cresco we find, the Empire house; B. 
Isaacs, manufacturer of wagons, buggies, etc.; Mrs. Knowles, mil- 
linery and dressmaking; Mrs. J. T. Donahue, millinery and fancy 
goods; Bones & White, dry goods; J. J. Clemmer, drugs; B. Cha- 
pin, Hardware and stoves. W. H. AUeman, boots and shoes; D. 
Bean, harness; Mrs. F. H. Jewett, photographer; T. Miller, har- 
ness. G. A. Purdy, stoves; Perry & Conklin, agricultural machin- 
ery; E. B. 81oan, merchant tailor; Burdick & Clouse, general mer 
chandise; Price and Lowry, drugs; Parnell and Myers, olacksmiths. 
N. H. Knowles, M. D., and J. J. Clemmer, M. D., are al-;j repre- 
sented among the advertisers with Strother and Kirkpatrick, gene- 
ral merchandise. 

W. R. Mead, the editor, one of the representativemenof the jour- 
nalistic-fraternity in this section, came to the state of Iowa, in 1854^ 
and employed his time on the "Daily Northwest," then a paper 
published at Dubuque, by General Geo. W. Jones; he came to 
Howard county in 1857, intending to resume the practice of law> 
for which he had been educated, but journalism claimed him for 
her own and the fates so willed it, 

The following, in regard to the press used in printing the New 
Oregon Plaindealer, is of historical value, as it is related by W. R. 
Meade, one of the owners of that paper, and is clipped from a late 
issue of the journal he so ably edits. 

"The identical press that Lovejoy had at Alton, 111., and which 
was thrown into the Mississippi at the time Lovejoy was killed by 
a mob, is said to be printing the Belmond, (Iowa), Herald. The 
editor will ship the press to the Illinois Historical society if they 



402 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

will ship him in return a new improved power press. Fair enough. 
— [Austin Transcript. 

The press mentioned is the one used in this office when the 
Plain Denier was established twenty-four years ago; was shipped 
by steamboat from the scene of its years of submersion, direct to 
McGregor; was used by us until our enlargement in 1869, when it 
was sold to G. E. Frost, of Clear Lake, and we understand was 
transierred by him to its present ownership. It is a press unlike 
in its construction, any other that we ever saw. In size it is for a 
six column paper, though we made a seven column paper by re- 
ducing the columns to narrow width. In Illinois the democrats 
threw it into the Mississippi, because it advocated abolitionism; in 
Iowa the abolitionists threatened to throw it into the Turkey 
river because it advocated democracy through the Plain Dealer." 

In 1858, George W. Haislet, who in later years carried on the 
Decorah Radical, but now numbered with the dead, established a 
six column folio paper at Howard Center, called the "Northern 
Light". This journal was of but one years growth, when it met 
its demise. From a perusal of its issues we find that Royal 0. 
Thayer, kept a livery stable and John W. Walters, was a carpenter 
and builder at that place. 

During the early part of the year a paper was started, at New 
Oregon, in opposition to the Plain Dealer, by T. J. Gilmore and 
Fitz James McKay, and called the "Star of the West," but alas it 
was almost stifled in its birth and lingered along a sickly life for 
eleven short weeks and then departed to where so many newspapers 
go. It was intended to be a weekly paper, and was established 
for the purpose of publishing the tax sales, of the county — but it 
proved "weakly" and hence its demise. 

The "Howard County Times" was established in Cresco, January 
20, 1867,by F. C. Wood and Frank Mix,who were at the same time^ 
editors and proprietors,no uncommon conjunction in this country. 
It started as a seven column folio, and was intensely and radically 
republican in pohtics, and has continued to hold the same opinions 
yet, although it has increased in size to a six column quarto. In 
August, 1867, F. C. Wood sold his interest in the paper to his 
partner, Frank Mix, who shortly afterwards died, but his estate 
still retained its interest therein, and C. F. Breckinridge, managed 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 403 

it, until I. A. Hoxie purchased it. Mr. Hoxie shortly afterward 
Bold it to W. N. Burdick, now of the Postville Review. 

After running it about a year, in April, 1873, Burdick sold it to 
W. M. Fogo and W. W. White, under whose management it con- 
tinued, until April 1, 1873, when Mr. Fogo sold his interest to L 
E. Smith, who immediately entered upon the editorial control. On 
October 21, 1873, Mr. White also sold his interest, Mr. Smith be- 
coming the purchaser, since which time he has been sole owner 
and editor. The paper was known formerly as the Cresco Times 
but its name has been changed, under Mr. Smith's charge to its 
present one. 

It is claimed for the Times, that it enjoys the largest circulation 
of any paper in the county, and is the exponent of radical i)ro- 
hibition and morality and is one of the finest sheets in the section 
both for the ability displayed in its columns and for the neatness 
of its mechanical "makeup." 

Several more papers have been started in the county but they 
were of short duration, noticably, the "Peoples Representative" a 
weekly eight column journal, published at Cresco, in 1873 with 
George F. Crouch, as editor. 

Lime Springs also has enjoyed several papers, but from some 
cause or other, their demise occurred early in life, and we have no 
record thereof. 




404 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY, 



CHAPTER VI. 



County Buildings; Court Houses; Jail; Residence of thb 
Sheriff; Poor Farm; Early Attempts at Purchase op Same; 
Final Action in Regard to County Farm, Etc. 



POOR FARM. 

In no country under the sun, has a more magnanimous regard 
for the poor been displayed than in this noble republican home of 
ours — and this can be said more particularly of the countries of 
the great northwest. Howard county, is in this respect^in nowise 
behind her sister counties. 

It was not strange that the pioneer settler discovered, so early, 
the wants of his poorer neighbor, and was so prompt to extend to 
him a helping hand, and to inaugurate measures for his relief, be- 
beyond his means, when we remember that his state was also 
one of compartive poverty. "A fellow feeling makes us won- 
derous kind;" as the poet hath so beautifully sung. 

No record has been kept of the many private acts of charity per- 
formed by the more affluent citizen' toward his needy neighbor. 
The halo of eloquent silence surrounds them; but, deeply graven, 
in letters more pure and bright than gold, doth shine the deeds of 
many noble men and women, of this land, whose Christianity and 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 405 

■charity is not alone expressed by their dovotion to the services of 
the church. 

The first organized effort on the part of the citiz'-ns of Howard 
county, for the relief of their necessitious brethren, whom mis- 
fortune had reduced to penury and want is not recorded, here on 
earth; perhaps the recording angel has incribed it upon his book, 
and the action may bear fruition, elsewhere. Almost the first 
entries made in the books of the county judge, then ex-officio the 
county government, relates to the payment of small sums to the 
needy and destitute; "The poor and needy ye have with ye al- 
ways" we are told and we know that in the early days of this 
county's settlement, it was not exempt from the rvile. The man 
reduced, through misfortune or thorough habits the opposite of 
commendable, could not be allowed to starve or want for shelter 
— the widow who had been left to buffet alone the billows of life's 
stormy sea, could not be neglected — the helpless orphans, left 
drifting toward the breakers must be helped, and the true hearted 
pioneer was nut the man to turn his back on them, nor a deaf 
ear to their cry. Out of the funds at the disposal of the govern- 
ment seemed the best way, to provide for then, all could bear the 
burden equally and equitably. 

For many years the poverty stricken were cared for in the 
homes that still remained to shelter them — in the homes of the 
stranger — their maintainence furnished by the county. 

In 1866, the first effort was made to purchase a farm and erect 
buildings, suitable for the keeping and maintaining of those de- 
pendent ujjon the county purse. 

During that year, a committee of three of its members was ap- 
pointed by the board of supervisors, to solicit the terms for the 
purchas of a farm, suitable for the support of the wards of the 
■county. 

The committee were instructed to report to the board the prices, 
location, terms, advantages, etc., of lands offered them and thought 
by them fit for the purpose intended. They were further instruc- 
ted that the county did not wish the land to amount to less than 
one hundred and sixty acres. They were also empowered to ad- 
vertise for sealed bids, and to use all discretion in the matter, so 
as to present a full report, which was to be returned at the next 
meeting of the board. 



406 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

The committee consisted of Mrssrs. C. S. Thurber, Stephen 
Radford and C. W. Field. 

At the September session, 1866, the committee handed in their 
report, which runs, as follows: 

"That they have received several proposals of farms for sale, 
but not anything in their judgment answering the purposes of the 
county. Your committee would further report, that, in their 
judgment, they cannot purchase a farm with the neceesary im- 
provements, and therefore, would recommend, if the board see fit 
to purchase a farm, that they procure a piece of unimproved land 
and make the necessary improvements:" 

The affair seems to have collapsed, for want of life, at this junc- 
ture and the old method of providing for the poor still continued 
and we hear no more of the scheme until 1868, when, at the Jan- 
uary session of tlie board, they passed the following resolution, in 
regard to the matter under discussion: 

"Whereas, It is deemed advisable, by this board, that some 
provision be made for the poor of the county, whereby they may 
be subsisted at a less cost to the county, than by the present 
method, therefore; 

"Resolved, That a committee of three, be appointed to look for 
a feasible site for a "poor house farm," improved or unimproved; 
ascertain the cost of the same, estimate the cost of the necessary 
buildings and improvements, and report to this board, at the June 
session, with a view to submit the proposition to a vote of electors, 
of this county, at the next general election, according to the pro- 
visions of the code of the state of Iowa." 

Messrs. C. S. Thurber, Thomas Griffin and W. H. Patterson 
were the committee appointed, the latter being clerk of the board. 

This committee' as instructed, returned a report at the June ses- 
sion, saying that they had viewed the place of Albert Miller, at 
Saratoga, of which the price was three thousand dollars, there be- 
ing one hundred and sixty acres, twenty -five acres of timber, forty- 
five or fifty under cultivation, had a good house erected on itj was 
well watered and the means of access was good, being on the 
Main road, from Cresco to Osage. They also reported, that they 
had looked at the farm of Keuling and Robinson, about two miles 
south of Saratoga, which contained some three hundred and 
twenty acres, was well watered, with the means of access equally 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 407 

good, the land was of excellent quality and could be purchased' 
for the sum of $1530. This they considered remarkably cheap, 
and estimated, that the necessary improvements could be made 
for the sum of $3500, and recommended, that the vote be taken 
on the amount of $5000, which would cover all the expense. 

At the election held in November, of the same year, the ques- 
tion of levying a special tax, to pay for the poor house farm, the 
community seemed to think that some better plan existed, to pro- 
vide a home for the destitute, for the vote stood only 92 in favor 
of levying the tax and 709 against it. The subject was them 
dropped for the present. However in 1881, the board became the 
owners of a farm, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 
eleven, 99-11, and determined to utilize it for a poor farm, as there 
was a fine large house on it. 

This land had originally been what is known as school, land and 
was purchased by some parties on contract, but was never deeded. 
Being covered by mortgages and judgments, the county bought 
up all claims against it, foreclosed the mortgages and bid it in, 
at the sale. 

The following circular was issued, in regard to it, from the 
auditor's office by order of the board : 

auditor's office. 

Cresco, April 12, 1881 , 
To the Township Trustees of Howard county: 

Gentleman. — The board of supervisors have provided a poor 
house and farm, for the future support of such persons as need 
permanent relief, and have fixed on the 25th day of April, inst., as • 
the time when all outside allowances shall cease. 

You will please notify all such persons as are receiving perma- 
manent relief from you, that their allowances will then cease, and ; 
that if further relief is required it will be furnished at the poor 
house, and if they apply, you will give them an order to the 
Steward of the poor farm for admittance and relief — simply give 
them the order. Cases will occasionally arise when it will be 
your manifest duty to furnish a conveyance, but as a rule, the 
friends of such poor persons should get them to the poor house. 
The trustees need not meet as a board for the purpose of send- 
ing a person to the poor house. The order of one trustee will be 
sufficient. 



408 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

In providing temporary relief, great caution should be exer- 
cised, lest 3^ou and the public be imposed on; the fact that a per- 
son is poor, does not entitle such person to support at the public 
expense. 

Many of the tax-payers are poor, and in view of this fact relief 
should be granted only in cases of extreme destitution. Let your 
allowances be very sparing until the next meeting of the board of 
supervisors, when each case should be fully reported by you, and 
the board will make such disposition of them as economy, the 
general welfare of the county, and necessity, demands. 

The poor expenses of the county for the year 1880, amounted 
$23761.57, and are increasing, thus far in 1881, by nearly one half. 
The board of supervisors are doing all in their power to keep 
these expenses within reasonable limits, and they respectfully asK 
your hearty and cordial co-operation. 

Hereafter, claims against the county for temporary relief, must 
be certified to by at least a majority of the board of trustees of the 
.township where the person receiving aid resides. 

Enclosed herewith, find blanks for use in sending poor persons 
to the poor house. John E. Peck, 

County Auditor. 
By order of the Board of Supervisors. 

P. S. The poor farm is located about three miles Northwest of 

Cresco, and was formerly known as the Sumner farm — sometimes 

called the Marlow place. J. E. P. 

Joseph H. Batterham was appointed steward, at its inception 

■- and satisfactorily fills the place to the present writing. Thus 

through many adverse circumstances has been established this 

1 home for the indigent, and the charity of the county is brought 

I under something like management. 

COUNTY BUILDING. 

In the year 1859, when the county seat was located on the bluff, 
midway between the villages of New Oregon and Vernon Springs, 
a subscription was raised in both towns, and a building erected 
and donated to the county. This being built of the most avail- 
able lumber, basswood, in a few short years, became so dilapidated 
and rotten through the action of the elements and the exposed 
position of the structure, the timbers rotting down, the sheathing 
.tumbling off, and the roof leaking, that much apprehension was 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 409 

excited in the minds of the county officers, as to its being a place 
of security for the records and other valuable books and papers 
of a necessity stored therein, and measures were taken, as early 
as 1865, to have the seat of government removed elsewhere. After 
8ome manoeuvers on the part of the rival villages mentioned 
above, in 1867, the board of supervisors of the county accepted 
the offer of the Howard county court house association to build a 
brick edifice at Cresco, and put it at the disposal of the county. 
Immediately, upon the acceptation of this offer, the association 
commenced to erect the building on the site known as the court 
house square. The structure was of good size and every way 
applicable to the purpose for which it was intended. In July, 
1867, it was occupied by various officers, who removed there with 
all their books, papers, and furniture, and the seat of county gov- 
ernment, for convenience sake, was removed to Cresco, although 
the county seat proper, could not be legally moved; for explana- 
tion of this, see chapter IV. This building was then used as the 
county offices until December 1, 1876, when it was destroyed by 
fire. The devouring element, with greedy maw, soon wiped out of 
existence the entire building, and with it the records of the court; 
the books and papers of the other officers, however, being rescued 
from the insatiable monster. Many were, and are, the conjectures 
as to the origin of the fire, and more than one had suspicion that 
the hand of an incendiary put the torch to the building. This 
was seemingly strengthened on the development of the Kyte 
business, aud some did not hesitate to aver that he was the guilty 
party ,but of this there exists no certainty, and we should not add, 
uncharitably, to the burden he already bears. Let us hope that it 
was not so, for he has crime enough to answer for without charg- 
ing him with arson. Let the broad mantle of charity cover up 
his misdeeds, and say that the conflagration was the result of 
accident. 

After the loss of the court house, the association of the citizens 
of Cresco immediately proceeded to rebuild the edifice, and in a 
more imposing style of architecture. 

The following items of information, in regard to the cost of the 
building, were obtained from a letter, written by Hon. John 
McHugh, to a committee of gentlemen, at New Hampton, who 
inquired respecting it. It would seem from that, that the asso- 



410 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



^ • 



ciation paid $5,707.90, the county giving $1,040.00, making $6,- 
747.90, which was ])aid to the contractor. It is, however, claimed 
that the said contractors lost $1,825.00, making the building cost^ 
as follows: 

Funds furnished by association $5,707.90 

Funds furnished by county 1,040.00 

Money lost by contractors 1,825.00 . 

Making a total cost of $8,572.90 

The building is a neat, stylish, red brick edifice, trimmed with 
Milwaukee brick of a soft cream color. The architecture is of the 
modern renaissance order, and the architect has displayed much 
taste in working out his ideas on the subject. A wide corridor 
through the middle of the first floor, with the offices on each side, 
presents itself to view on entrance. The recorder the first on the 
left, and next the treasurer's office; on the right hand the clerk of 
the court and the auditor hold forth. 

The sheriflf and county superintendent, are accomodated with 
offices in the basement. The second story, a fine commodious 
and well lighted room, is the court room in which is held the dif- 
ferent courts when sitting in the county. 

The grounds surrounding the court house, are handsomly fenced 
with an ornamental railing of iron, and artistically laid out. The 
county jail, and residence of the sheriff" attached thereto, are 
located within the same enclosure, north of the court house. 

The jail is one of the best in this section of country. In June, 
1882, the board of supervisors instructed the auditor to advertise 
for bids for the building of a jail, the same to be erected of brick, 
with steel-clad cells, and also, for the erection of a residence, for 
the sheriff, to be attached, thereunto. 

But on their receipt, the proposals, not proving to the satisfac- 
tion of the (officials, they determined to carr}^ out their ideas, by 
erecting the buildings, themselves. A. G. Hubbard was appointed 
as a building committee, to superintend the operation. Great 
satisfaction resulted from this action as well as considerable 
economy. 

The business abilities of the board, were employed on this busi- 
ness of the county's, to the same extent as would have been ex- 
erted, had it been some of the private affairs, of their own. The 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 411 

cost of the steel clad cells, with the necessary fixtures, and the 
expense of putting them in place, was the greatest part of the out- 
lay, being $3500. 

The entire cost of residence, jail and everything, foots up to 
$8,885, but the outlay has been not wasted, and the county has 
received full value for it money. 

The jail is one of the best and most complete, for one of its size, 
in the northwest. The edifice is built of brick, the walls being 
very heavy and thick, and measures 22x24 feet, and thirteen feet 
high. A thick jjavement or floor was first made under the cells, 
apparently burglar proof, being two feet thick and usuing some 
five cords of stone and seventeen barrels of cement in the mak- 
ing. 

There are two cells, built of steel — or steel-clad — each six feet 
long by eight feet wide and seven high, with a corridor between 
five by thirteen feet in dimension. Each cell will hold four pris- 
oners on a pinch. Above the cells is a water tank which supplies 
a bountiful supply of water for drinking and cleansing purposes. 

The cells are made of five thicknesses or plys of hardened steel 
bars riveted together, and which are so hard that the usual bur- 
glars, saw will make no impression on them. They are opened and 
closed with the patent lever attachment, and the whole outfit is 
entirely first-class. 

The' unparalleled success of the financiering, of the last few 
years, in the accounts and funds of the county, cannot be lightly 
passed over in this connection, and could only be accomplished by 
splendid business ability and strict integrity united to peerless 
energy. We have it from undoubted authority, that, in 1877, when 
the affairs of the late treasurer, Kyte, were settled up, there was an 

empty treasury and a bonded indebtedness of over $20,000, as the 
only possessions of the county. 

By a rigid system of economy, and an ability of financiering 
not often displayed, at least in public affairs, without raising the 
rate of taxation, the poor farm has been established, the jail built 
and paid for, the bonded indebtedness reduced to a merely nom- 
inal sum, county warrants brought to par, and money in the 
treasury to anticipate the current wants of the county. This is 



412 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



unparalleled in the annals of any county in the state. The tax- 
ation is less, and has been so, for the past few years, than ever be- 
fore, and is still decreasing. 

These things are here spoken of, as many people are not aware, 
Qr at least are not cognizant, of the entire facts, and truth demands 
that the gentlemen, who have engineered the finances of the 
county for the last few years, should have all the honor and praise 
for their ability, business tact and integrity. With such men as 
L. T. Emmons, James Oakley, A. G. Hubbard, Thomas McCook 
aud Chas. Keefe at the helm and the true eye of John E. Peck, as 
auditor, to look out for breakers, the people of Howard county 
may rest assured that their interests will not suifer: 




HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 413 



CHAPTER VII. 



Educational; County Schools; Teachers; County Superin- 
tendents; Institutes; Census Returns eor 1860, 1870, 1875 
AND 1880, Etc. 

educational 
Howard county, considered from an educational stand-point, 
takes very high rank, among the sisterhood of counties. The 
statistics show that in 1882, as taken from the report oT the county 
superintendent, there were in the county 3,235 children within the 
county, between the ages of five twenty-one years divided as 
follows : 

Afton township, 389; Chester, 172; Forest City (out districts), 
141; Lime Springs station, 197; Howard, 248; Howard Center, 
153; Jamestown (outside district), 122; Riceville, 32; New Oregon, 
365; Oakdale, 136; Paris, 285; Saratoga , 134; Vernon Springs 
(outside districts), 211; Cresco, 419; Albion, 253. 

Thre are enrolled in the county, out of these 2,864 scholars as 
attendants at the various schools, and the attendence is above the 
usual average by several per cent. 

There are seventy-eight frame, three brick, and three stone 
school houses in the county and altogether valued at $58,630, some 
quite commodious and pretentious in architecture and many 
of them worth from $2,000 dollars upwards and one, that at 
Cresco, one of the best in northern Iowa, valued at $14,000. 



414 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

Quite a number are supplied with expensive apparatus, and five 
report having libraries, one with 2,500, and another, 1,500 vol- 
umes contained therein. 

There are forty -six male and ninety female teachers, employed 
at an average compensation of $38, for males and $26 for females, 
although some of each receive quite respectable salaries. The 
great fault with Howard county, as with many others, is the pay- 
ing of such small salaries, to their instructors, which is of itself 
reprehensible, for it keeps many truly competent people out of 
the ranks and leaves to mediocrity alone the task of teaching the 
rising generation. 

When this mistaken policy,- and false economy is done away 

' with the school systen) will be complete but under the present 

rule, salaries are so small in many instances, as to be less than can 

be earned at any other employment, and people have got through 

working for glory. 

The cost of tuition varies largely in each township, parti 3^ owing 
to some of them having a sparsely settled community, and but few 
children attending the school. We give the average cost per pupil 
by townships, and for the independent districts of Cresco, Lime 
Springs and Riceville and others. 

Oakville independent district $ 1 85 

Libert]!^ « " 2 05 

Lincoln " " 2 85 

Niciiols " " 2 38 

Darrow " " 1 07 

Albion " " 2 50 

Florenceville " " 2 16 

Cresco " " 99 

LimeSprings " " 1 17 

Riceville " " J 41 

Forest city township " 3 26 

Oakdale " 2 25 

Jamestown " 2 75 

Saratoga " 1 80 

Howard Centre " 2 50 

Chester " 2 50 

Howard • " 2 46 

Afton " 1 46 

Vernon Springs " 4 00 



HISTOKY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 417 

Paris township 2 16 

NewOregon " 2 43 

The first county superintendent of public schools, we have any 
record of, is C. E. Brown who seems to have held the position 
prior to 1858, but of this fact -it is not certain, however; the list is 
as follows: 

C. E. Brown, from 1858 to 1861. 

Adam Fussell, from 1861, until September, 1862, when he re- 
signed, and the board appointed T. W. Lee, who held from 1861 
to 1869. 

C. F. Breckenridge, from 1869 to 1878. 

O. N. Hoyt, from 1873 to 1877. 

W. H. Brocksome, from 1877 to 1879. 

Fred C. Clark, from 1879, and present officer. 

The first normal institute held within the county, of which 
there exist any record, was during the spring of 1876. This was 
couducted by J. C. Gilchrist, of St. Paul, assisted by J. Brecken- 
ridge, of Decorah, a-nd Miss Addie Bucklin. 

There seems to be a hiatus existing in the records of these in- 
stitutes, for the next we can find any account of, was held at Cresco, 
in 1880, there were enrolled fourteen male and sixty-nine female 
attendant teachers. J. Breckenridge, of Decorah, Avas conductor, 
assisted by R. S. Holway, Rev. S. G. Smith, A. S. Benedict and 
A. E. Anderson. 

In 1881 was held the next with L. T. Weld, the efficient princi- 
pal of the Cresco school, as conductor, assisted by Geo. Chandler, 
C. H. Valder, Mrs. Weld and among the lectures was Carl Von 
Coelln, the state superintendent of public instruction. 

At the institute of 1882, L. T. Weld was conductor as before, 
assisted by R. G. Young, with Mrs. M. H. Hunt, and S. P. Leland 
as lecturers. The attendance was sixteen male and sixty-seven 
female. 

The following circular, issued as we go to press, by the county 
superintendent, explains itself: 

"To Teachers and Those Intending to Teach: 

The annual teacher's normal institute, of Howard county, for 
1883, will be held in the public school building, at Cresco, com- 
mencing March 19th and continuing two weeks. 

The institute will be conducted by Prof. L. T. Weld, of Cresco, 



418 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

and Prof. J. Breckenridge, of Decorah. All who intend to teach 
are cordially invited to come the first day, and remain during the 
entire session. The benefit derived from attending the institutes, 
are fully appreciated by all progressive teachers, and we feel con- 
fident that they will attend if it is possible for them to do so. In 
order, however, to reach some who have been teaching several 
terms, without making any visible improvement, and who seem to 
be satisfied if they can get a second or third grade certificate 
(renewed), we feel compelled to say: that no third, or second grade 
certificate will be renewed; and those who fail to attend the 
institute must expect to pass a most rigid examination if they 
continue to teach. Our state superintendent, Hon. J. W. Akers, 
will deliver a lecture before the institute. An examination will be 
held at the close of the institute. Hoping to meet you all on the 
first day of the institute, I remain yours respectfully, 

F. C. Clark, County Superintendent. 

There are now in the county one hundred and fifty-seven 
teachers, who hold the following certificates: 

First grade, 13 males, and 2o females; second grade, 22 males, 
and 51 females; third grade, 1'.: males, and 36 females. 

While in 1880 there were about one hundred, out of which 
number sixty-six held first grade certificates, but by raising the 
standard of examination the number has been decreased, but the 
grade has gained in efficiency. The description of the school 
houses of Cresco and Lime Springs may be found under the 
respective heads of those towns. 

CENSUS. 

According to the United States census of 1860, the county of 
Howard, state of Iowa, contained 3168 inhabitants, of all ages, 
sexes, and colors. 

The following table is a slight abstract from the census of 1870, 
of Howard county, as made by the United States: 

Number of white inhabitants 6,270 

Number of colored inhabitants 12 

Number of acres improved land 44,235 

Number of horses 2,175 

Number of mules :... 37 

Number of milch cows 2,734 

Number of working oxen 431 



I 

J 

j 

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY, 41& j 

\ 

Number of sheep 1,648 | 

Number of swine 2,640 | 

Number of bushels of wheat raised 321,514 j 

Number of bushels of corn raised 120,234 1 

Number of bushels of oats raised 263,258 i 

Number of bushels of barley raised 13,357 '' 

Number of bushels of potatoes raised 30,713 i 

Number of tons of hay made 14,880' 

Number of pounds of butter made 408,351 I 

Number of pounds of cheese made 4,476 •] 

Number of pounds of wool raised 5,153 

We also find that the value of property in the county is returned, i 

in 1870, as follows : ) 
Total assessed value, of all real and personal 

estate $1,426,727 1 

Total true value of all real and personal estate 4,131,132 j 

Total taxes levied in the county 45,754 , 

The manufacturing interests of Howard county are represented, 
for 1870, as follows: 

Number of manufacturing establishments 32 

Number of hands employed 69 ! 

Capital employed $54,350 ' 

Wages paid 8,310 ! 

Material used..... 52,279 : 

Products 86,292 • : 

In 1875 the census, as returned to the sixteenth general asembly 
of the state of Iowa, shows, as follows: 

White male inhabitants in county 4,199 j 

White female inhabitants in county 3,647 j 

Colored male inhabitants 18 j 

Colored female inhabitants 11 

Number of horses in county 3,433 

Number of mules 58 

Number of milch cows 4,358 

Number of work oxen 279 

Number of other cattle • 8,018 

Number of hogs 5,777^ ( 

Number of sheep 1,605 j 

Number of acres of improved land in the county. 115,823- i 



s 



420 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

There was raised in Howard county, and sold during the yeax 

1874, products of the farm and dairy, as follows:" 

Bushels, 

Wheat 582,803 

Corn 307,912 

Oats 340;268 

Barley 34,047 

Buckwheat 1 ,251 

Potatoes 62,472 

Turnips 11,729 

Pounds. 

Butter., .' 323,116 

Cheese (not factory) 16,671 

Wool 6,663 

« I Tons. 

Hay 21,905 

Below we give the census of the number of inhabitants in 

Howard county, by townships, for the year 1880: 

Albion \ 620 

Afton 661 

Chester 391 

Cresco (town) 1201 

Forest City 941 

Howard 381 

Vernon Springs 752 

Howard Center 381 

Jamestown 389 

New Oregon 1153 

Oakdale 255 

Paris 571 

Saratoga 179 

Total 7875 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 421 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Vernon Springs Township; Location; Early Settlement; Vil- 
lage OF Vernon Springs; First Store, Saw Mill, Grist 
Mill, Churches and Schools; Cresco; Rise and Progress;" 
Early Merchants, Churches, Newspapers and Present 
State of Societies, Churches, Schools and General Busi- 
ness. Records of School Board of Independent District 
OF Cresco. 



VERNON SPRINGS TOWNSHIP. 

H. D. Noble in an article published in the Cresco Times of July 6, 
1876 gives the following in regard to Vernon Springs township 
which is made from township ninety-nine, range eleven. 

"The first settlement was made by Oren Sprague, who built the 
first saw mill in Howard county, at the head of the grove on Tur- 
key river, near what was later the town of Vernon Springs in the 

year 1853. William Harlow, Noonan, Thomas Fitzgerald 

and Thomas Granathan also took up claims about the same time 
in this precinct. The year after James G. Upton, first county 
judge, E. Gillett, first county clerk, M. G. Goss, M. L. Shook (on a 
claim taken first by Woodworth, alias "Old Frosty," of Decorah.C 



422 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

In August 1854, H. Blodgett and J. M. Fields came into this 
precinct as permanant settlers. 

Mr. Noble further says; "There is no hesitancy calling this town- 
ship the most beautiful of all Howard county, being a succession 
of groves and prairies, more equal in distribution than any other 
section; well watered by numberless springs and spring streams; 
more good dry tillable land, with convenient spring courses for 
stock raising and grass growing — being at that point of the great 
military ridge running from McGregor northwest, where the 
knolls gradually roll into level prairie — it is par excellence the 
township of Howard county. It contains the villiage of 

VERNON SPRINGS. 

Here the saw mill of Sprague had soon a neighbor for in 1854, 
Henry Milder, erected a store which was known as the "blue store." 

The saw mill has long since given way to the extensive grist 
mill and saw mill erected by A. H. Harris, on its site, being the 
first mill (grist) erected in the county, and one that brought cus- 
tomers from the west and the northwest the full distance of a 
hundred miles or more. The store mentioned has given way to 
new ones, in 1859 the village contained two stores, one extensive 
distillery with brewery, steam saw and grist mill combined, one 
water grist mill and saw mill, one tannery, two blacksmith shops, 
one shoe shop, one wagon shop one hotel, and an unfinished school 
house. The professional men at that time were, one doctor J. H. 
Bowers and one lawyer F. Belfoy. 

The Babtist church was organized in 1857 with C. E. Brown as 
pastor. 

The Methodist Episcopal church dates its organization from 1858 
Rev's Fall, Waterburg and Young being among the early pastors. 

The county seat was located at Vernon Springs in August 1855, 
by James G. Upton, county judge. 

The township was organized in 1855, J. F. Thayer and C. S. 
Thurber being elected justices of the peace The first school in the 
precinct was taught by Aaron Kimball in 1857 — 8. 

Although the village ofVernon Springs once occupied a conspic- 
uous place in the county, and bade fair to grow into a large and 
thriving town, the rising glories of Cresco, so near it on the line of 
the railroad, so dimmed its light that it has gently settled back 
until a view of it calls to mind some thoughts of Goldsmiths, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 423 

"deserted village" — verily its glory hath departed. The present 
county seat and largest and most important town in the county is 
the city of 

CRESCO • 

which is located on portions of section 22, 23, 26 and 27 of this 
township, and is one of the liveliest and most flourishing of all the 
prairie cities. 

The land, upon which this town now stands, was entered at the 
general land office in September, 1856, by Horace Barber, as the 
records show. In October, 1857; it was sold by him to M. L. 
Shook, who after holding it for some nine years, again sold it to 
Augustus Beadle during the month of April, 1866, who sold apart 
interest in it to W. B. Strong and B. H. Edgertown, and who 
immediately had it platted and laid out into town lots, the plat 
being placed upon record June 12, the same year. Several addit- 
ions have since been added, necessitated by the surprising growth 
of the town, of which the most important are, Beadle Strong and 
Hungerford's, on the remaining portion of section 25; Baldwin's 
on the south-east quarter of section twenty-four; and Beadle's on 
the north-west quarter of section twenty -six. 

Of its early settlement but little can be said. The old Greek 
Mythology told how Minerva sprang full armed from the head 
of Jove and thus it seems with the birth of Cresco that sprung into 
being a full fledged city. A bald prairie, which had been covered 
with the waving grain the season before, in June 1866 was covered 
with buildings, and the town made quite an appearance as such; 
so marvelous was its rapid rise — even in these days of mushroom 
growth — that it stands without a parallel in the country. We find 
among the first merchants of the town, who settled there on its 
first inaugeration. Strother and Kirkpatrick, who were large 
dealers in general merchandise; Bones and White, dry goods; J. J. 
Clemmer, drugs, paints and oils; B. Chapin, stoves and hardware; 
G. A. Purdy, stores; Burdick and Clouse, genaral merchandise; 
Price and Lowry, drugs and medicines; W. H. Alleman; boots and 
shoes; Perry and Conklin, agricultural machinery; Mrs. J. T. 
Donahugh, millinery and fancy goods. There were also at the 
same time the following parties in business in the town B. Isaacs, 
manufacturer of buggies, wagons, etc. ; Parnell and Myers, black- 
smiths; D. Beam and F. Miller, harness makers; Mrs. F. H. 



424 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

I 

Jewett, photographer; Mrs Knowles and Co., milliner and dress- 
makers, and E. B. Sloan merchant taylor. The earliest physicians 
to locate at this point were N. H. Knowles,M.D. and J.J. Clemmer, 
M- D- who attended to the wants of the sick and hurt of the com- 
munity, the latter gentleman, has "served his country" several 
times in an ofiicial manner, being for several terms, county coroner, 
and still resides in the town, and engaged in the practice of 
his profession, and ownes and operates a large drug store in con- 
nection therewith. 

The hotel interest was also well represented at the time as we find 
the record of two good houses in the year 1867. 

The Empire house, then engineered by J. DeNoyelles, now of 
the town Nashua; and the Durham house. 

About all the lawyers, whose names we find in the early 
records, are W. R. Mead and H. A. Goodrich, we know that there 
were more for what town is there in all the broad expanse of our 
native land, of a thousand inhabitants, that cannot boast of more 
than two of the bright lights of the bar. 

In the early part of 1868, the question of incorporation came to 
the front, and, after some agitation, seemed to meet the views of 
the majority and an election was ordered for city officers, and 
Isaac Gregory, was chosen mayor, on April 20th, that year; the 
other ofiicers elected were: 

W. R. Mead, recorder; Henry Widner, attorney; B. Chapin, 
treasurer; L. T. Woodcock, J. J. Clemmer, John C. Clark and John 
E. Peck, as councilmen. 

The officers of the city, in 1875 were as follows: J. F. Webster, 
Mayor; Henry Widner, recorder; H. Clark, treasurer; H. C. Mc- 
Carty, attorney; with H. E. Crandall, John E. Peck, G. W. Coon, 
Fred Miller and Jacob J. Lowry as council. 

The city was controlled by the following officers, in 1882: Frank 
Sayre, mayor; F. A. Glass, recorder; with C. F. Webster, John B. 
Caward, William Wilbraham, Isaac Gregory, J. G. Doane and 
Henry Young as the the city council 

At this writiting (March, 1883) the election for city officers has 
just resulted in the choice of following : 

R. J. McHugh, mayor; A. F. Baumgartner, recorder; W. K. 
Barker, attorney; P. Connolly, treasurer; M, Luther, assessor; E. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 425 

H. Donahugh, street commissioner; and J. J. Lowr.v, H. C. Bur- 
gess and C. Frank Stremel, as members of the council. 

Almost the first thing to do, it seems, when a new town is form- 
ed, is to institute a school, and in this respect Cresco is, in no wise, 
an exception, as it is recorded that a school was opened, during 
the first winter of the town's existence, in the building afterwards 
known as the private residence of Mrs. Bateman. 

The independent school district of Cresco, seems to have been 
formed during the year 1869, but of this there exists no records, 
"to make assurance doubly sure." Of all that remains, we have 
carefully gone over, and find that the niinutes of the first board of 
school directors are dated December, 1871. The board then con- 
sisted of the following gentlemen: Augustus Beadle, E. Gillett, W. 
R. Mead, S. A. Stone, and W. H. Patterson. In January, 1872, 
the new board elected, consisted of Augustus Beadle, S. A. Stone, 
W. H. Patterson, D. W. Owen, W. R. Meade and E. Gillette, with 
Chas. I. White as secretary. 

This board, at a session held Macrh 4, appropriated some four 
hundred dollars to purchase four lots, next to the school house 
lots, so as to give larger grounds for that edifice. 

The election for officers of the above board, March 18, resulted 
in placing Augustus Beadle in the chair; John E. Peck as treas- 
urer; and Chas. I. White, secretary, as before. The board after 
organizing as above, immediately proceeded to levy a tax of ten 
mills on the dollar for the school house fund. 

Here it may be in order to make the statement that the main 
part of the present school building was erected ' of stone, during, 
the summer of 1869, and cost in the neighborhood of $8,000. The' 
connection will be perceptible when it is seen that this special levy 
of tax was for the purpose of building an additional wing. It 
would seem from the records, that during this year, the teachers 
were Mrs. Archer and Miss Nellie Phelps, together with L. T. 
Weld as principal. 

At a meeting of the school board, held December 3d, 1872, it 
was 

Resolved, That each and every member of the school board be 
required to visit the school, at least once a month, under penalty 
of buying the oysters* for said school board. 



426 HISTORY OP HOWARD COUNTY. 

And the resolution apparently clinches the matter by adding 
"that the said oysters shall be good ones." 

The board, at the meeting of March 17, 1873, consistad of A. 
Beadle, president; John E. Peck, treasurer; C. I. \¥hite, secretary; 
E. Gillett, S. A. Stone, C. V. Jacobs, C. B. Sampson, John Farns- 
worth and W. R. Mead. 

At <>Bj"s meeting the resignation of Miss Nellie Phelps, as teacher, 
was handed in and accepted, and Mrs. L. T. Weld was appointed 
to fill the vacancy. Contracts were also signed with L. T. Weld, 
Mrs. Weld, Miss^Lockwood and Miss Nichols, as teachers for the 
ensiling year, and also wtih Miss Lucy Thurber for fall term of 
1873. 

The accommodations for school purposes seems to have proved 
insufficient, the board appointed a committee, in August, 1873, to 
procure or build a room suitable for the purpose intended, that of 
establishing the primary school, separate from other grades. This 
committee reported, on September 21st following, that they had 
rented a room of Mr. Jackson, and fitted it up for the use of the 
said primary grade; and that the same was installed therein. 

We find that the board, March 16, 1874, consisted of the follow- 
ing gentlemen: 

E. Gillett, president; John E, Peck, treasurer; C. I. White, sec- 
retary; C. V. Jacobs, John Farnsworth, C. B. Samson, S. A. Stone 
and W. H. Patterson. 

The report of the treasurer, of the school money was received 
March 16, 1874, and shows as follows: 

On hand, in school house fund $1,333 32 

On hand in teachers' fund 453 00 

.On hand in contingent fund 162 18 

Total $1,939 50 

T5y resolution, April 6, 1874, the board instructed the clerk to 
issue the notice of a special election to order a tax to help build 
additional school house room. And on May 11, the following 
were named a committee to make plans and specifications for a 
wing to the school house, 28x52 feet, and also for the same to ad- 
vertise for bids for the construction of the same: S. A. Stone, E. 
'Gillett, C. I. White and John E. Peck. 

This was accordingly done, and the fine additional wing on the 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 427 

west side of the main building was erected the same year, under 
their supervision, at a total cost of about $4,000. This gave the 
necessary room, and the separate system was abandoned, and the 
primary grade was restored to its place, in the same building,with 
the others; placing all unde.i the controlling influence of the prin- 
cipal. The building was now large enough, for the time being, 
but as will be found farther on, it in time was considered too 
small, and another wing was added. 

June 1, 1874, G. M. Harris was elected a member of the board, 
to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of C. B. Smith from the 
town. 

The salaries of the teachers of the district are defined this year 
as being, principal, $1,000 for the first year, and $1,200 every suc- 
ceeding year; first assistant, $450 first year, $500 succeeding years; 
second assistant, $350 first year, $400 per year afterwards; assist- 
ants in the intermediate departments, $400 first year, and $450 
thereafter; first assistant in the primary grade, $400 the first year, 
$450 after; second assistant in same department, $350 the first 
year, with an increase of $50 the succeeding years. 

The roll of teachers this year is, L. T. Weld, principal; Miss 
Addie E. Bucklin, first assistant; Mrs. Nichols, Miss Nichols and 
Miss Lucy Thurber. 

The board- of 1875 when convened, comprised the following list: 
S. A. "Stone, president; John E. Peck, treasurer; Charles I. White, 
secretary; John Farnsworth, C. V. Jacobs, W. H. Patterson, P. T. 
Searles and C. F. Breckenridge. 

The following is the roll of teachers in 1875: 

L. T. Weld, principal; Mrs. L. T. Weld, Mrs. Nichols, MissSim- 
onds, Miss Lucy Thurber and Miss Addie E. Barnes. 

At the annual meeting, September, 1875, the members of the 
board present were, S. A. Stone, president; L. T. Woodcock, 
treasurer; Charles I. White, Secretary; P. T. Searles, John Farns- 
worth, C. V. Jacobs, C. F. Breckenridge, W. H.- Patterson. 

Board for 1877 consisted of John Farnsworth, president; L. T. 
Woodcock, treasurer; C. I. White, secretary; C. F. Breckenridge, 
P. T. Searles, C. V. Jacobs, Daniel Piatt and C. F. Webster. 

In 1878 the following was the composition of the board of 
directors : 

C. V. Jacobs, president; L. T. Woodcock, treasurer; Charles I. 



428 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

White, secretary, with C. F. Breckenridge, C. F. Webster, Daniel 

Piatt, L. E. Smith, and W. H. Patterson. 

The roll of the teachers for the same year is given, as follows: 
L. T. Weld, principal; Mrs. L. T. Weld, Mrs. Nichols, Miss 

Viola Webster, Miss Kittle Harris, teachers, with one vacancy. 

Under date of June 10, 1878, a resolution is found, instructing 
the secretary to call a special election of the voters of the district, 
to authorize the board to issue bonds to build another wing to the 
school house. The election was held, and it was found that the 
people of the city had the necessary confidence to make the 
authorization. The bonds were accordingly issued, and C. V. 
Jacobs and Daniel Ratt were appointed a committee to put in the 
foundation for the east wing of the school house. This was built 
at a cost of $200, the board entering into a contract with J. ¥. 
Mitchell, he agreeing to erect the same for that sum. 

In the fall of 1878 the contract was likewise let for the erection 
of the building, S. H. Clark being the contractor, whose bid for 
$2,928 was the lowest and best. 

The school board for the year 1879 consisted of the following 
gentlemen : 

J. F. Donahugh, H. E. Lomas, Daniel Piatt, L. E. Smith, W. H. 
Patterson, with C. F. Webster as president; L. T. Woodcock, 
treasurer, and C. I. White, secretary. 

During March, 1880, the new board of school directors assumed 
the control, and consisted of the following gentlemen: 

L. E. Smith, president; L. T. Woodcock, treasurer; Charles I. 
White, secretary; Daniel Piatt, H. E. Lomas, W. H. Patterson, and 
J. F. Donahugh. No better board could have occupied the re- 
sponsible position. 

By a resolution the salary, of the principal, L. T. Weld, was 
made $1,200 per year, and that of all the assistants made a uniform 
rate of $35 per month. 
'- It was during this year that the first class, under the present 
rule and grade* was graduated with all the honors. The occasion 
was made a season of festivity and rejoicing in a sober, intellectual 
way. The ceremonies and the entertainment furnished by the 
exercises are spoken of by many to this day. 

January, 1881, it was found, as the money market had grown 
easier and the rate for the use of moneys had become less, that 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 429 

the bonds of the independent school district of Cresco could be 
refunded at six per cent., and the board passed a resolution, 
instructing the clerk to proceed to do so immediately. The matter 
was soon adjusted on this basis, and some money was saved to the 
treasury by the action. 

In March, of the same year, the new board was organized, as 
follows : 

L. E. Smith, president; L. T. Woodcock, treasurar; C. I. White, 
secretary; H. E. Lomas, Daniel Piatt, J. F. Donahugh, John 
Farnsworth, and C. F. Webster. 

Six lots were purchased by the district, in October, 1882, of 
Augustus Beadle, in the school house block, for the sum of $350, 
giving the children a fine, large play-ground, and adding to the 
beauty of the surroundings of the school house. 

The following is an abstract from the report of the treasurer of 
the independent school district of Cresco, delivered to the board 
at their meeting held March 20, 1882. 

Annual report of money's received and paid out by the treasurer, 
for the year ending February 28, 1882: 

SCHOOL HOUSE FUND. 

Dr. Cr. , 
To amount received of county treasurer.$l,702.13 
By 'amount overpaid at date of last re- 
port... 423.74 

By amount paid on bonds and interest.. 772.00 

By amount on hand , 506.39 

Totals 11,702.13 $1,702.13 

teacher's fund. 

•To amount on hand at last report $ 511.19 

To amount received of county treasurer. 3,215.53 
To amount received from apportion- 
ment 610.74 

To amount received from tuition 233.25 

By amount paid teachers $4,073.27 

By amount on hands 497.44 

Totals $4,570.71 $4,570.71 



430 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. • 

CONTINGENT FUND. 

To amount on hand at last report 17 88 

To amount received of county treas- 
urer 1167 06 

To amount overpaid 224 23 

By amount paid janitor 350 00 

By amount paid secretary 50 00 

By amount paid insurance 106 00 

By amount paid for wood 412 15 

By amount paid for old orders 234 28 

By amount paid for repairs, etc 256 74 

Total '. $1409 17 $1409 17 

The present board, at this writing (March 10, 1883.) is composed 
as follows: 

L. E. Smith, president; L. T. Woodcock, treasurer; Charles I. 
White, secretary; C. F. Webster, John Farnsworth, Daniel Piatt, 
R. J. McHugh, and Doan. 

There was in 1879 a bonded indebtedness of the district school 
house fund afloat, amounting to $5,000, which with the interest 
for that year $350, and indebtedness of the other funds of $316.67, 
made a grand total of $5,666.67, as the incumbrance upon the 
property belonging thereto. 

But by judicious management, and real financial ability, the 
board have reduced the whole debt to about $1,500, and that with 
some money in the treasury. 

For all the above information we are under obligations to the 
kindness and courtesey of county treasurer, C. I. White, who is 
also secretary of the school board, and it is no more than just that 
we should render the proper acknowledgement. 

The following is the" annual report of moneys received and paid 
out by the treasurer of the independent school district of Cresco, 
for the year ending February 28, 1883: 

SCHOOL HOUSE FUND. 

On hand at date of last report $ $ 506 89 

Received of county treasurer 1399 99 

Paid on bonds....' 1225 00 

Balance on hand 681 66 



1906 66 1906 66 



history of howard county. 431 

teachers' fund. 

On hand at date of last report $ $ 497 34 

Received of county treasurer 2797 60 

Received of state appropriation... 534 66 

Received of Vernon Springs 142 00 

Received of tuition 235 57 

Paid on teachers' order 4203 50 

Balance on hand 3 67 

4207 17 4207 17 
contingent fund. 

By county treasurer $ $ 941 00 

By Vernon Springs 73 00 

By other sources 13 50 

To amount over paid at date of 
last report 224 18 

To amount paid janitor 450 00 

To amount paid for the school 

grounds 350 00 

To amount paid for sidewalks and 

repairs 147 29 

To amount paid for school furni- 
ture 22 65 

To &,mount paid for wood and 

other expenses 331 74 

By amount overpaid 498 36 

1525 86 . 1525 86 

ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES FOR THE COMING YEAR. 

School house fund $ 1200 00 

Teachers fund 3000 00 • 

Contingent fund 1500 00 

15700 00 
C. I. White, L. E. Smith, 

Secretary. President. 

The following is the course of study for the high school grade in 
the Cresco school. It is given as a specimen of the high class of 
education and culture given at this temple of knowledge. 



432 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

JUNIOR YEAR — FIRST TERM. 

Latin or review of English grammar. 
Arithmetic or Phyisology. \ 

SECOND TERM. 

Latin or Word analysis. 
Elementary Algebra. 
Physiology, one-half term. 
Physical Geography, one-half term. 

THIRD TERM. 

Latin or drawing. 
Elementary Algebra. 
Physical Geography. 

MIDDLE YEAR — FIRST TERM. 

Latin or Chemistry 



Elementary Algebra. | 
Natural Philosophy. 

SECOND TERM. 

I 

Latin or Zoology. ; 

Rhetoric and composition. ! 

Natural Philosophy, one-half term. , ' 

Constitution of the United States, one-half term. j 

THIRD TERM. ■ 

Latin or Geology. j 

Rhetoric and composition. j 
Geometry. 

SENIOR YEAR — FIRST TERM. 

Latin or Asti*bnomy. ' 
English and American literature. • I 

Geometry and higher Algebra. ' 

SECOND TERM. 

Latin or Book-keeping. j 

General History. j 
Higher Algebra. 

THIRD TERM. ' 

I 

Latin or Political economy. \ 

Botan3\ i 



General History. 

Elocution and Composition throughout the- course. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 435 

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 

"We are told as early as 1855, the IMethodists held religious ser- 
vices at Vernon Springs, as is detailed elsewhere. 

The first church edifice erected in the town of Cresco, was of 
this denomination , and was built during the year 1866. It is a 
neat iranie structure, capable of seating about three hundred peo- 
ple, and is furnished in good style. The cost of the building, as 
originally constructed, was about $3,000. For the first few years 
it appears that the services w^ere held by the preachers on the cir- 
cuit, but in 1870 the church was made a station, and a regular 
pastor was among the appointments, Rev. J. Riddington appears 
to be the first of these. 

The date of his first efforts being 1870. He held the position 
but a short time, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. F. McLain, 
who was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Brocksome. 

This gentleman was quite a favorite with his congregation and the 
communitj^ generally, and remained as pastor of the flock, until 
1874, w'hen he was displaced by Rev. J. Dulph, who occupied the 
pulpit until October, 1876, when Rev. J. L. Paine took his place. 
Rev. George Elliott was the next, and the date of his a]'pointment, 
appears as being .January 1, 1880. He held this until December 
1. 1881, when the present pastor, G. W. Pratt succeeded him. 
There is a fine Sabbath school connected with the church, which 
has ai'air regular attendance. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Tliis church society was organized, July 20, 1867, under the 
name of Grace church. 

The first rector was the Rev. J. Ram bo, to whose untiring 
energy the church owes its existence. The church edifice was 
erected during the year 1868, and is a neat and handsome struc- 
ture 24x34 feet in size, and is capable of seating some one bundled 
and fifty persons. 

The funds for the building of the church, some S2.200, was 
mostly contributed by friends of the same denomination in the 
east. The bell was a donation from the famous banker, Jay Cooke, 
of Philadelphia. 

There is a fine, pleasant parsonage, connected with the church. 
Rev. C. S. Percival, is the present rector. 

The Congregational church of Cresco, is an outgrowth of the 



436 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

church at New Oregon, or more properly speaking is the same 
church removed to its new quarters. September 7, 1856, Rev. 
J. W. Windsor, organized the the church at New Oregon. 

The infant organization numbered sixteen members at its incep- 
tion, it grew and strengthened with years, and became the leading 
church. 

Mr. Windsor remained pastor, until 1866, and then resigned 
and was succeeded by Rev. S. D. Peet, who, however, did not long 
stay, for we find, that during 1868, Mr. Windsor was recalled to 
the scene of his labors. 

It was during his second pastorate, that the people seeing that 
the majority of their members were emmigrating to the neighboring 
town of Cresco, determined upon removing the church there. 
' Accordingly in 1868, the building was removed to that place, 
and enlarged by the addition of twelve feet to the front and a bel-. 
fry erected thereon. 

The reorganization of the society now became necessary and a 
meeting was called for that purpose, and the object came into 
effect, and the edifice dedicated October 25th, of the same year, 
Rev. Samuel P. Sloan, McGregor, delivering the dedicatory ad- 
dress. 

In 1871, Rev. Mr. Windsor, again resigned his charge, much to 
the dissatisfaction of the congregation, who all loved and admired 
him; Rev. Mr. Southworth was then called to the pulpit. The 
latter gentleman presided over the destinies of the flock, until the 
21st of January, 1876, when Rev. A. S. McConnell was called and 
assumed the position of spiritual guide to the congregation. His 
initial sermon was preached about the middle of February, and 
and was one of the finest efforts heard for some time. The church 
continues yet. under his able ministration, and is in a flourishing 
condition. 

This society is noted as having a very fine choir, which adds to 
the attraction of the church services, and delights the true lover 
of fine music. 

The bell that hangs in the belfry, and calls the worshipper to 
services of the church was presented to the society by a friend in 
New liondon, Conn., and is noted as being the first bell ever hung 
in a church tower, Avithin the limits of Howard county. 

The first or"janization of the Roman Catholic church in the 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 437 

county was at New Oregon, but as the society was 
not of long duration the records have entirely dissappeared and 
hence the date is lost in the mists of the past. 

In 1871, Rev. Father M. A. McCarty, succeeded in organizing 
the chvirch anew. 

The church edifice was erected in 1872, and is a neat specimen 
of church architecture. It is 24x48 feet in size and cost $3,000 to 
build. 

Farther McCarty still continues to minister to the spiritual 
wants of his flock, and is loved and revered by all, witli whom he 
comes in contact. 

The congregation is not very large, but the regularity with 
which the duties of the church are attended speak well for their 
devotion. 

There is also a German Lutheran church organization, located 
here who have erected a fine edifice in the eastern part of the 
town. Of this society we have no notes. 

The Baptist church of Cresco is of comparativel}' recent origin. 
In April, 1878, a society of this denomination was organized, of 
which Rev. E. W. Green seems to have been paster. 

They had no church building but appear to have worshipped 
in Prices hall, but with nothing like any regularity, it being of a 
spasmodic nature, running along nicely for a few months then 
suffering a suspension of a like time and again resuming services. 
This gave great dissatisfaction all around, and in 1881, it was de- 
termined to reorganize on a different basis. This was accordingly 
done and on the ordination, of Rev. A. H. Carman, he was called 
upon to act as the pastor. Under his able leadership, the little 
band has grown to quite respectable proportions and is in a flour- 
ishing condition. 

In 1882 the church edifice was erected and dedicated as a house 
of worship November 5th, of that year. This structure although 
small in dimension, being but 28x42 feet, with a vestry 14-20, is 
one of the finest in the city. In architecture it's a simplification of 
the Elizabethan gothic order, and the effect produced is beautiful. 
S. H. Clark was the contractor and erected the structure for $2,- 
700. 

Inside, the building, presents a fine appearance, with its stained 
glass windows, making "a dim mysterious light," that superin- 



438 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

duces to religions thoughts. A good Sunday school is also at- 
tached to the churcli. and is well attended and conducted and ia 
looked upon as the nursery of the future church. 

I. o. o. F. 

Cresco lodge. No. 260, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was 
organized during the spring of 187-1, with ten charter members, 
viz: John G. Stradley, S. T. Irvine, G. M. Harris, C. S. Maxson,C. 
F. Webster, J. F. Webster, M. S. Powall, J. J. Saulsbury, N. Pull- 
man, and I). W. Owen. 

J. G. Stradley was the first N. G., and G. M. Harris, secretary. . 
The present ollicers are: Robert Blackman, N, G.; George Pratt, 
V. G., and J. Welsh, secretary. 

The lodge is reported to be in a tiourishing condition, nundier- 
ing among it mau}'^ members, some of the most substantial men of 
the county. The finances, as is usual in the order, are in excellent 
shape, and bright days seem to be in store for it. 

MASONIC. 

Cresco lodge. No. 150, A. F. and A. M., is an outgrowth of the 
New Oregon Lodge, which was moved to the town of Cresco, 
March, 1870. 

The oflicers at that time were: M. M. Moon, W. M., and W. H. 
Patterson, secretary. 

After its removal the membership increased rapidly, and we are 
informed that the efficiency of tlie work is remarkably creditable, 
and that the prosperous condition of the lodge is owing to the 
energy of the master. The present secretary is G. M. Harris, and 
the worshii)ful master, M. M. Moon. 

Shih)h chapter. No. 64, R. A. M., was organized August, 1871» 
and has a healthy growth. M. M. Moon was the first H. P., 
and W. M. Fogo, secretar3^ 

* WORKMEN. 

Howard lodge. No. , A. 0. U. W., was organized July 26, 

1876, and officers elected, as follows: 

S. A. Stone, P. M. W.; M. M. Moon, M. W.; C. I. White, G. F.; 
M. L. Luther, overseer; C. J. Webber, recorder; S. L. Smith, 
receiver; C. F. Webster, financier; H. S. Loomis, guide; E. E. 
Bertrand, I. W.; Jasper Bottsford, O. W.; B. F. Stone, M. M. 
Moon, and C. I. White, trustees. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 439 

The lodge has liad an ahnost nniutciruptcd course of success, 
and is rated very high in stanchircl. The present ofhcers are: 

Jerry Barker, P. M. W.; W. M. Wildman, M. W.; M. M. Moon, 
foreman; W. C. Brown, overseer; Jolin Farnsworth, receiver; John 

E. Peck, recorder; Geo. H. Kellogg, financiei , Frank Siiy re, guide; 
G. B. Watts, T. W., and A. G. Genshaw, 0. W. 

THE LAND LEAGUE 

was organiy.ed January 2, 1882, by the C(,'l tic- American citizens, 
who ahiiost to a man belong to it. Tlie object is to have a more 
concerted action for the relief of their oj)j)ressed brethren, across 
the sea, and to countenance the legal efforts of Ireland's people to 
throw off the galling yoke of hated Albion. The oflicers are P. 

F. O'Malley, president; R. J. Mcllugh, vice-president; J. H. 
Foster, secretary, and P. Connolly, treasurer. 

TEM I'EHANCK SOCIETIES. 

There has been a Good Templar lodge, in Cresco, organized 
about the year 1874, which arose, flourished and met its demise 
along with niany other such societies. It would seem that all 
the institutions for the improvements of the morals of a com- 
munity, are but short-lived. Several attempts have been made to 
resuscitate it, but have been abortive. 

Social Temple of Honor was organized November 25, 1-881. 
The presiding Templars, Miss Violet K. Truman, and J. F. 
Webster, with Mrs. M. M. Moon, and Walter Doan, as recorders. 

Tlie Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society, a temj)erance 
organization under the ausijici.'s of the llonjim Catholic church, 
was organized in the fall of 1874. It owes much of its success to 
the untiring eflbrts of Father McCarty, who is ex-oflicio, the 
leading s])irit. Although having but a small beginning it has 
grown, grandly, and now numbers eighty-five members. The 
officers are: 

D. A. Lyons, president; Bernaid Dougherty, vice-president; 
Daniel Barnes, secretary, and P. b\ O'Malley, treasurer. 

This oi'ganization has done more good than any other temper- 
ance body in the town, and deserves all the credit due it. 

LEGION OF HONOR. 

A lodge of this organization was instituted in Cresco, September 
19, 1879, anrl is in a flourishing condition. The present oflicers 
are: President, Wu), Win^raham; financial secretary, John E. 



440 HISTORY OF HOWAKD COUNTY. 

Peck; recording secretaiy, C. F. Webster; treasurer, Charles I. 
White. 

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

As early as the winter of 1857-8 the citizens of Howard county 
essayed to form an agricultural society, and during the summer of 
1858 an organization Avas effected. In the fall of that year the 
fair was held under its auspices at Howard Center. It seems, 
however, that the country was not settled enough to support the 
society, and the whole matter was abandoned and the organization 
disbanded. In 1866 another effort was made in the same direc- 
tion, and a company was formed under the same name — Howard 
County Agricultural Society— but it suffered the same fate as its 
predecessor, and soon was numbered with the things that were. 
Things remained thus, until in 1871, a new organization was made, 
and as the old saying has it, "three time is the charm," this was a 
success and a grand one at that, in fact it is said, that no similar 
society in the state is established on a better or more substantial 
basis than this. Its fairs and exhibitions have been a flattering 
success from the very beginning. The officers, in 1875, were: C. 
F. Webster, president; John E. Peck, vice-president; John Stein- 
man, secretary; Jesse Barljer, treasurer. The present officers are: 
T. P. Davis, president, and C. F. Webster, secretary. 

The society owns some ten acres of ground, beautifully laid 
out, with good buildings, sheds, pens, etc., and a remarkably fine 
floral hall. Everything owned by the company is paid for, and 
with money in the treasury they can bid defiance to any adverse 
fortune. 

THE OLD SETTLERS SOCIETY 

was organized in 1869, with Darius Seeley as president, and H. D. 
Noble as secretary. The first annunl gathering was held the same 
year, at Gillett's Grove, Judge M. V. Burdick delivering the 
address. In 1871 the second meeting was held a,t Lime Springs, 
there being none held in 1870, and was largely attended, W. 
Dobson being the principal speaker. The society have held 
annual meetings every year since, and is in a fine and healthy state, 
and the gatherings are largely attended by the pioneers, who there 
retail to each other the stories of "old times," and tell those 
marvelous hunting yarns they so much delight in. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 441 

CRESCO DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION 

was at one time one of the most successful organizations of the 
kind in northern Iowa. It was organized in 1872, and on its 
inception purchased some eighty acres of land about a mile from 
the town of Cresco. 

A mile track was laid out, which was said to be one of the best 
in the state, and the grounds were enclosed. After a few years, 
however, the interest declined, and but little is said about it at 
present. The Howard county agricultural society own ten acres 
in the center of the grounds, and to them is due the fact of the 
preservation of the grounds and fences. 

BANKS. 

In the early days of Cresco, in 1868, Aaron Kimball and John 
Farnsworth established a banking house, under the firm name of 
Kimball and Farnsworth, with a capital large enough for the 
wants of the community at that time. A course of strict integrity 
and honorable dealing has built up the concern, until, to-day, it is 
noted ior its soundness and financial ability. The bank occupies 
quite commodious quarters on Elm street. 

In 1873 A. D. Wright established a banking house also, but it 
was short-lived and exists no longer. 

October, 1877, witnessed the opening of the Howard county 
bank, then owned and operated by Kerby and McHugh, the latter 
being the resident manager. After a very successful run of busi- 
ness, in July, 1880, John McHugh purchased the interest of D. R. 
Kerby, his partner, and under his able management and talented 
financiering the bank has won a front rank in the moneyed in- 
stitutions of the county. A large insurance business is also trans- 
acted in connection with the bank, and the neat and stylish ofhce 
on Elm street seems the beau ideal of a banking room. 

ELEVATORS. 

. These are among the most noteworthy institutions of Cresco. 
One, that of Bassett, Huntting & Co., was built in 1872, at a cost 
of $17,000, and is one of the finest steam elevators on the line of 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and has a Ktorage 
capacity of 50,000 bushels of grain. The other, equally fine and 
large, is operated by Gilchrist & Co. 

HOTELS. 

It would seem that the first hotel in the town of Cresco, was the 



442 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

old Mansfield house, afterwards known as the DeNoyelles house.. 
This was destroyed by fire, and on its site arose the present 
Strother house. This is the largest of the hotels in Cresco, and 
the town can boast of quite a number, and is one of the finest in 
the northern part of the state. It is a large, three-story brick 
veneered edifice, trimmed with cream colored Milwaukee brick. 
It is large, roomy and commodious, and fitted up with all the 
modern improvements. The building was erected in 1876, by W. 
Strother, and was opened for business New Years night, 1877, under 
the management of Priest and Shaw, to whom it was leased. In 
April, 1877, however, Mr. Shaw withdrew from the partnarship, 
going to ("harles City, D. H. Priest still retaining the lease and 
operating the hotel, until December, 1879, when W. Strother, the 
owner, assumed the control, which he continues to the present 
time, meriting the encomiums of the traveling community, who so 
largely patronize the house. A mention of the house without 
speaking of the gentlemanly clerk, Sidney W. Hart, would be 
like the play of Hamlet with the prince left out. 

The Webster house, on upper Elm street, is likewise an old 
landmark in the town's history, and in its early days was kept by 
J. F. Webster, from whom it derived its name. J. J. Mason is 
now and has been for some time the "jolly host," and the house 
enjoys a good share of business. 

The Dil worth house was erected in 1876, by John Dilworth, its 
present owner, who has successfully conducted it since it was first 
built. Neat and commodious, and operated in first-class style it 
enjoys considerable popularity. 

The Van Slyke house is also another of the fraternity of hotels, 
and holds its .evel with its compeers. 

SHIPMENTS. 

An indication of the importance of Cresco as a shipping point, 
will be found in the following statement: 

Shipment of grain and produce from Cresco, via the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, during the year 1882: 

Pounds. 

Wheat 1,791,700 

Barley 3,272,940 

Oats 8,979,480 " 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTS . 

Corn 7/2(57,300 

Potatoes 551,300 

Grass seed 1,048,5(')0 

Flax seed 2,214,010 

Flonr 701,900 

Mill feed 502,330 

Dressed hogs 55,270 

Hay.. 280,000 

Eggs 20,140 

Butter 775,570 

Poultry 43,000 

Horses 140,000 

Horned cattle 665,500 

Live hogs 3,860,000 

Sheep 60,000 



443 




444 UISTORY OF HOAVARD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Forest City Township; Location; Early Settlement; Organi- 
zation; First Schools; Postoffice, Churches, and Mills; 
Village of Lime Springs, First Settlers; Mill; Town op 
Lime Springs Station, First jNIerchants, Mechanics, Etc.; 
Organization and Officers; Schools, Churches, Societies, 
Etc., Etc. 



•> 



Forest City formerly was known as Foreston, and occupies 
town one hundred, range twelve, west, and is the second in the 
northern tier of townships. For the facts, in regard to this town, 
we are indebted to the Cresco Times. In the issue of that paper, 
July 6, 1876 it is stated, as follows: 

"The first settlers that claimed the vacant lands and homes of 
the red men, were R. S. Buckminster, J. Knowlton, John Adam 
and R. E. Bassett, Ben and George Gardner, Oscar Chescbro, the 
three Mortimers and others, who all came in the year 1854. 

"The precinct was organized from Vernon Springs in the fall of 
185(3; C. S. Thuroer was elected justice of the peace, and Edward 
Bassett, town clerk. The whole number of votes cast at this 
-election was forty. 



HISTORY OK HOWARD COUNTY. 445 

'The first school in the township wns taught l)y Miss Helen 
Van Leuvan, in the year 185G, and the second was opened by 
James Morris, in the winter of 1857-8. 

"The first postoflfice was established at Lime Springs in 1855, A. 
D. C. Knowlton, postmaster." 

The first death in the township occurred in the winter of 1854-5, 
and was that of John Mortimer, who was the pioneer in the city 
of the dead. 

"The year 1859 seems to have been a year prolific in the forma- 
tion of church societies. The Jjaj^tist being the first to lead off, 
under the direction of Rev. C. E. Brown, of Vernon Springs, at 
Lime S})rings. The Methodist following shortly in the wake by 
organizing two cluirches, one at Foreston village, and one at Lime 
Springs, both owing their existence to the energy of Rev. Water- 
bury, of New Oregon. The Presbyterian denomination not to be 
outdone, also started churches at each of the above places, in the 
same year, under the ministration of Rev. A. Craig. The religious 
revival of that year seemed to have permeated all people, and 
denominations vied with each other in the formation of societies, 
and erection of temples of worship. 

"For natural beauty of scenery this precinct cannot be excelled. 
The rocky shores of the Upper Iowa, fringed with the umbrageous 
shade of primeval trees, the high, rolling prairies spreading like a 
petrified' sea of emeralds, the cosy homes nestling in the beautiful 
groves that dot its surface, all go to make up a jjicture not often 
met with, and where it is the lover of nature stands entranced." 

"Along the banks of the river were found the many caujping 
greunds of the aborigines, and it is told that they were a matter 
of considerable curiosity to the early settlers, one J. Knowlton, in 
his seeking over their locality, picking up and preserving a knife 
lost by some Indian owner. 

Fine water ])0wer8 are \vithin the limits of the township, which 
have been improved to some extent, 3 mills being erected, one at 
Foreston, one at Lime Springs (old town), and another about two 
miles west of the latter place. The precinct contains, besides the 
villages of Foreston and Lime Springs, the town of Lime S^n-ings 
Station, the second town in the county in regard to population 
and business. 

The old town of Lime Springs was first settled by Oscar Chese- 



446 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

bro, and Joseph Knowlton, in the year 1854; here they erected 
their homes, and gathered around them quite a settlement. In 
the spring of 1857 tlie most of the land belonging to some land 
speculators, 0. and W. O. Wood by name, they laid out a town 
plat. 

The country settling up caused quite an influx of merchants 
and mechanics, and the site soon began to assume the appearance 
of a village, until two years later, in 1859, it contained two stores, 
one blacksmith shop, a wagon maker, tavern, school house, and 
some twelve jv fourteen dwelling houses. The names of these 
early settlers are A. D. C. Knowlton, .Joseph Knowlton, M. M. 
Marsh, C. C. Hewitt, W. O. Dheseboro, H. H. Wells, Oliver Chese- 
boro, and G. M. Van Leuvan, the latter gentlemen being engaged 
in the practice of law, and was the first lawyer in the township. 
The large •i.rist mill was erected in 1859-60, by M. M. Marsh, and 
was, at the time, one of the best in that section. 

This mill is a large three-story structure, partly built of stone 
and partly frame, and stands on a natural elevation on the 
banks of the Upper Iowa river, whose current is utilized to propel 
its machinery. Since its erection by Mr. Marsh it has passed 
through the hands of several parties, notably that of I. N. Drake, 
of Volga City. The Lime Springs milling company, consisting of 
H. W. Babcock and A. F. Baumgartner,who are the present owners 
and operators, and they intend to increase the facilities and extend 
the business by the addition of newer and more improved 
machinery. 

The Avater power is first-class in every respect, and is a never 
failing source of motive power. Four run of stone is the present 
equipment of the mill, but the early spring will witness the intro- 
duction of the roller system for making fine flour, when the old 
grinding apparatus will be used to grind feed for cattle, hogs, and 
horses. 

The same company own some fifteen acres of pasture land, on 
which are kept some fine stock. 

The mill is situated about three-fourths of a mile from the station 
of Lime Springs, and cannot keep ahead of their orders by run- 
ning both night and day. A large amount of grinding is done for 
the farmers of the surrounding country, besides the large merchant 
business controlled by it. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 447 

This is nlmost the only busincps now in existence at the old 
town, for when, in 1868, the railroad located the station where it 
now is, the business of the town naturally gravitated there, until 
it is almost deserted. Two churches still point their spires 
heavenward, one belonging to the Baptist, and the other to the 
Methodist denomination. The latter church seems, in these later 
times to have the general harmony of the society marred by 
internal dissensions. Those of the community who have removed 
to the station of Lime Springs, ^desiring to move thither the 
chircli edifice, are met by the action of those who remain in the 
"old town," whose interests are diametrically opposed thereto, and 
the matter has to be decided by some legal tribunal. 

LIME SPRINGS STATION 

is, next to Cresco, the most important one in the county, both as 
in regard to population and amount of business transacted. It is 
located on the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, in the 
township of Forest City, on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul railroad, and about ten miles northwest from Cresco. 

Laid out with fine broad streets, whose sides are fringed with 
stately trees and smiling cottages, or busy marts of trade and 
commerce, the town presents a charming appearance, and well 
deserves the encomiums lavished upon it by its citizens. The 
place has grown with _ a growth that in rapidity has scarcely a 
parallel. On the location of the depot of the railroad not even a 
single house was erected, but in the course of a few short months 
a flourishing town had sprung into existence, and what had been 
the pasture of the flocks and herds, echoed to the noise of artisan 
and mechanic, and the hurrying of tradesmens' feet. 

In the spi'ing of 1868 the town was born, as has been said, on 
the decision of the railroad company to place a depot at this 
point, and was known as Lime Springs Station, although the gov- 
ernment called it Glen Roy postoffice to distinguish it from the 
older town, for many years. 

Among the first merchants to settle, were: Peter Velie, jr. 
general merchandise; S. L. Carry, the same; John T. Cameron, 
produce; W. F. Daniels, groceries; J. E. Foster, furniture and 
undertaking; C. C. Hewitt, hardware; Josei)h Knowlton, hard- 
ware and stoves; H. P. Marsh, lumber; M. M. and A. E. Marsh 



448 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

drugs and medicines; Ohlqnist Bros., boots and shoes, and Alonzo* 
M. Pettit, groceries and confectioneries. 

The first wagon makers to locate and open up places of business 
were Henry D. Brown and William P. Reynolds, but which of 
these is the predecessor, is u^ncertain. 

Lorin J. Johnsoiv was the first to make and sell harness in the 
town, and the date of his settlement is identical with the birth of 
the village. 

D. M. Fuller was the first architect and builder, and Drs. John 
W. Reed and Joseph N. Medbery the pioneer physicians. 

Among the first j^laces of business opened in the town Miller 
& Son's extensive livery stable and dray and 'bus line must not 
be forgotten. 

The postoffice was established in IMarch, 1868, and James Green- 
leaf commissioned as postmaster, but from some cause he held the 
office but about one month, when he resigned it, and Alonzo M.. 
Pettit was appointed in his place, and still enjoys the emoluments 
of the office. 

The Presbyterian church, a large frame structure with oval 
window frames, was erected in the year 1870, and is now under the 
able ministration of Rev. P. S. Helms, who is loved and revered 
by all in the community, both in and out of his church. The 
interior of tlie building is well finished, Avith frescoed ceiling, and 
is well carpeted, possesses a fine organ and services are well 
attended. In the spire, which adorns the front of the building, 
hangs a silvery toned bell that calls the devoutly inclined to 
worship. 

The Baptist denomination also possess a neat and tasty church 
edifice, wherein Elder C. E. Brown holds forth occasionally, and 
Elder Benedict, on the alternate Sundays, holds regular services, 
and administers the rites of the church when the occasion de- 
mands. This edifice was erected about the same time as the other 
church. 

The school building is a fine large brick building, and contains 
three rooms, and stands in a large open play ground. The tutor- 
ship is vested in T. Dexter, principal, and Misses Libbie Smith 
and Hattie Johnson. There is also a fourth department, located 
at the old town under the supervision of Miss Ida Cheseboro. 



HISTOKY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 449 

The schools have an average attendance of fifty scholars, and 
present a remarkably high grade of study. The standard of the 
schools owes much to the efficiency and ability of Mr. Dexter, 
who has direct oversight of all the departments. His method of 
imparting instruction is novel, and is calculated to impress the 
knowledge desired upon the mind of the pupil to a surprising 
degree. 

The incorporation of the town of Lime Springs Station, dates 
from May, 1876. At the first election held in that month, W. P. 
Daniels was elected mayor; Peter Velie, jr., recorder, and H. P. 
Marsh, Ole Tistleson, G. Somsen, C. E. Hamlin, and J. F. Thomp- 
son as members of the council. 

Mr. Daniels did not see fit to qualify and assiime the office, to 
which he was elected, and J. F. Thompson acted as mayor, pro 
tem., until May 29th, when a special election was held for the 
purpose of electing a mayor to fill the vacancy, and J. E. Foster 
was elected and immediately assumed the duties of the office. 

At the first meeting of the council, held after he had assumed 
the chair, S. A. Miller was appointed marshal; Peter Velin, jr., 
treasurer, and H. C. Hewitt, collector. 

At a meeting held May 30, 1876, it was resolved to build a jail 
or calaboose for the use of the city, on lot 11, block 1, and in 
accordance with the resolution Avork was begun, and the building 
erected in .the succeeding month. 

The city officers, at the present writing (March, 1883), are: 

W. F. Daniels, mayor; Charles Gorst, recorder; L. J. Johnson, 
F. M. Clark, Ole Tistbson, W. H. Farrar, Joseph Knowlton, and 
Thomas Gates, councilmen. But at the election, held tliis nKmth, 
however, W. F. Daniels was re-elected mayor, Charles Gorst, 
recorder, and A. S. Lambert, and J. F. Thompson, as councilmen 
in the place of Messrs. Knowlton and Gates, who retire to the 
shades of private life. 

Lime Springs Station has a population, according to the census 
of 1880, oi 468, and the old town. Lime Springs, 225. 

The only manufacturing interest in the village is the Lime 
Springs Manufacturing Company's "Works. Here are made all 
kinds of buggies, wagons, and agricultural implements, and is 
doing an extensive and remunerative business. A. A. Sage is the 



450 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY - 

head of the concern, and it is owing to his energy and persevei- 
ance that the company is on its present footing. The large brick 
structure on the eastern limits of the town is well filled with work 
in the process of being manufactured. 

Among the societies established in the town, the 

LIME SPRINGS LODGE, NO. 122, A. O. U. W., 

is the most popular, possessing a large membership. It was 
organized in the year 1876, and is in a very flourishing financial 
condition. Meetings are held the first and third Fridays of every 
month, and are well attended. The officers are: 

J. D. Brown, M. W.; J. T. Smith, financier, and W. H. 
Farrar, recorder. 

MASONIC. 

Howard lodge, No. 214, is an old established organization, and 
possesses a fine lodge room. About forty brothers, in good stand- 
ing, are reported as the present membership. G. M. Van Leuvan 
is the worshipful master, and A. D. Prescott the senior warden at 
present. 




HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 453 



CHAPTER X. 



Township History; Location and Early Settlements of Sar- 
atoga, Paris, Afton, Jamestown, Howard Centre, Albion, 
New Oregon; Early Churches, Schools, Mills, and Set- 
tlers Therein. 



SARATOGA. 

The history of this township is given by H. D. Noble, so fully, 
that we can do no better than quot it almost entire. He says: 

"Saratoga township consists of congressional town 99, range 13, 
and belonged before its organization to Jamestown. 

"The first settler that pitched his tent therein was Jared Sigler, 
who settled on Crane creek, in July, 1854. In the winter follow- 
ing, Chas. Salmon, claimed the southwestquarter of section twenty, 
and laid out the village plat of Saratoga. The town first organ- 
ized in the summer of 1858, and the first election was held in 
October, oi tliat year. Thomas J. Gibbons, was elected justice of 
the peace, and John R. Buckbee, town clerk. The whole number 
of votes cast at that election was but fourteen. 

"In the summer of 1858, Rev. Coleman organized the first Con- 
gregational church. 



454 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

"During that same year the first school was also opened and was 
taught by Miss Emma Seeley. 

"This town is situated on one of the finest portions of Crane 
creek. Running as the stream does, through the whole length of 
the township, makes Saratoga as well watered as any section of 
country need be. The timl)er being confined to the banlvs of the 
creek. 

"The prairie is low and grassy for the most part, still many fine, 
warm and dry farms are mingled with the beautiful grass lands in 
right proportion for successful farming, in all its departments." 

PARIS TOWNSHIP. 

Is located on township 98, range 12, and the north half of town- 
ship 97, range 12, and ccmtains 54 sections. The first settlers, of 
which there seems to be any record or rememberance, were 
Thomas Griffin and Patrick Richards, who located in the year 
1855. 

They were followed, in 1856, by J. I. Sturgis and others, in the 
early spring and for man}'' years thereafter the place was known 
as "Sturgis Point." The town was organized from New Oregon, in 
1858, and at the first election, P. Smith Avas elected justice of the 
peace, and P. G^'ifiin, town clerk. Twenty-two votes were polled 
in all. 

During the winter of 1857-8 a school was opened for the rising . 
generation, and I. C. Chaml)erlain wielded the Birch and 

"Full many a whisper, circling round. 
Conveyed the dismal tidings, Avhen he frowned." 

In 1857, a post office was established at Sturgis' Point, with J. 
I. Sturgis as presiding genius. 

This township is beautifully divided between grove and prairie, 
and well watered, as, indeed is all the county, by never failing 
springs. Running diagonally through the southwest corner of the 
town is Crane creek, and abundant grass lands seem to point that 
the hand of Providence intended this land for grazing, for nowhere 
can finer beef be made than on the bottom lands and high prai- 
ries of this section. 

AFTON TOWNSHIP. 

Consists of town 98, range 14, and nortli half of town 97, range 
14, and was settled by A. Pooler, in the fall of 1854, set olf from 
Howard, to which it was heretofore attached, in 1858, and organ- 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 455- 

ized in 1858 as a sepernte townsliip. A. M. CoAvaii, and R. Wooten 
were elected justices of the peace. Forty-eight votes were polled 
at this election. 

In lS58,tho Methodists organized a church and under the minis- 
tration of Rev. A\'. Patterson made quite a mark in the history 
of those early days. 

Tradition hath it, that, in the cold winter, of 1856, two men of 
this town W. Glass and Van Am burg, not being able to resist the 
benumbing effects of hypoborean winter Avere frozen to death. 

HOWARD TOWNSHIP 

was first settled by W. S. Pettitone, in August, 1854. It was first 
organized as a township with Alton, and then occupied congress- 
ional town 98, range 13, north half 97, range 13, town 98, range 
14, and north half of town 97, range 14. 

The date of this organization was 1856, but in the spring of 
1858 it was divided into two precincts, the eastern one being called 
Howard, the western, Afton. Under the new organization, F. E. Day- 
ton and W. S. Pettibone were elected justices of the peace, and Jas. 
Hall, town clerk. Eight votes Avere all that was polled at this 
election. 

The post office village at Busti, is the only approach to a town 
in the township, and it was here that a settlement was started 'by a 
colony from Erie, Pa., but it never grew beyond a tidy collection 
of houses, and still languishes, and awaits the great future. 

JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP. 

While hunting through the musty records of the past for the 
history of this town, tlie following article, from the able pen of 
Mrs. E. V. Bennett, was found in the files of the Cresco Times, 
and as it covers all the ground, we have taken the liberty to quote 
freely from it, feeling that no efforts of ours could more fully cover 
the ground. In speaking, first of the toi)Ography, the article says: 

'^The main body of our woodlands is on sections 7, 8, 17, and 
18, and constitutes Avhat tlie earliest settlers at Wentworth,, 
Mitchell county, named Round Grove, from its appearance at that 
distance. This timber consists of jack oak, burr oak, poplar and 
basswood, with a sn)all portion of ehn, ma])le and butternut. 

"A brook zig-zags along the western line of sections 7 and 18, in 
the latter of which it unites with Spring creek (which in section. 
19 has another small tributary). Thus linking the springs and 



456 HISTOEY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

narrow water courses of the northwest portion of the 
township, this stream crosses our west line in section 30, 
and a Httle further on is merged into the Wapsipinicon. 

"That wealth of timber in Round Grove explains the fact that 
emmigration first centred there, and commenced at that point our 
historical outline. 

"The brook called by settlers, the Little VVapsie, rises near the 
centre, and runs south about midway through the township. This 
slender stream has no timbered margin within our limits, yet it 
also attracted settlement, and was bordered with pre-emptions. 

"Township 99, north, and range 14, west of the 5th principal 

meridian, was first sttled by whites in 1854. That year Messrs 

VanHoughton, Niles, Shaw and son broke a few acres of ground 

and started their log cabins in Round Grove. Before that date 

the surveyors foot alone had threaded its section lines; though 

the wild beasts of the wood and prairie had long before laid claim to 

these solitudes, and without filing their intentions had preempted 

the entire wilderness. 

"The Teeple brothers came from Canada in the spring of 1855. 

and located on section 6, which the four brothers George, Ed- 
ward, Stephen and Albert, pre-empted." 

These settlers seem to have been immediately followed by Ed. 
Irish and Samuel Hallett, who, however did not stay long, but 
sold out to actual settlers. 

^^'illis Spencer was the next, with his three sons-in-law, David 
Patterson, Thos. De Moss and Lucius Fassett, who all came in 
June of the same year, a colony of eighteen persons. In quick 
order followed Wm. and Dennis Rice, James E. Bennett and 
others. A party (who came with Bennett) erected a steam saw 
mill, which they had brought with them, and commenced 
operations in February, 1856 furnishing lumber for a number of 
pre-emption houses. This mill, however, was a losing investment, 
and it was finally sold at auction, and taken to the Upper Iowa. 
The first case tried in the Howard county court, Rice & Bradford 
vs. Cutting, grew out of this mill property. 

The comjjan}'- who constituted the mill party, were Jas. A. Cut- 
ting D. P. Bradford, Jno. Molfitt, and Lyman Southard, who all 
locatad claims within the present boundaries of the town. These 
parties date their incoming from the fall and winter of 1855, and 
before the new year had dawned Milo S. Torsey, Chas. D. Cutting, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. • 457 

Hazen Ricker and John Fiefield had joined this little squad of 
hardy pioneers. We must not forget to mention Asel Wilmot and 
Luther Titeuni who are beleived to have located also this year. 
The year 1856 saw a large emmigration, most of those who settled 
being from New York, and the New England states. The most 
conspicuous names being Darius and Smith W. Seeley, the first 
named being afterwards county judge. It is said that in the 
spring 1858 the actual settlers on pre-empted land — pre-emj)tors 
as they were called — numbered sixty-three. Again we quote fiom 
Mrs. E. V. Bennett's article: 

"A meeting was called January 1, 1856, to name the township, 
after some discussion it was named for the two persons who were 
then supposed to be the equal owners of the steam mill; (Bennett 
and Cutthig). 

"The first birth was that of Marcus DeMoss, April 12, 1856. The 
first death and burial was that of Mrs. D. Patterson, in June, 
1857. 

The first marriage was, is believed, that of Miss Martha Cassety to 
Ralph Watson, in December, 1858, Elder Grifiin, a Baptist minister 
officiating. The first and only singing school was taught in the 
winter of 1867-8 by Dr. Stockwell." 

The first election held in the township was during th presiden- 
tial election of 56; but the following spring, April 7, an election 
was held for township and county officers, with the following re- 
sult: 

W. E. Thayer and D. Patterson, constables; H. Ricker, Asel 
Fasset and Smith W. Seeley, town trustees; and Willis Spencer 
and Darius Seeley, justices of the peace. 

Among the first things mentioned, must not be forgotten the 
first school. This was opened and taught by Miss Jane Chandler, 
in a barn, on section 27, during the year 1857. This school was 
not at the i)ublic exjense. The first public schools, were two, 
opened during the summer of 1858, one taught by Miss Mary St. 
John, the other by Miss Cassety. "The first school house" says 
Mrs. Bennett, "was built of logs, in Round Grove, in 1857." 

In regard to early church matters the same article has some 
very interesting matter from which we glean. It seems that Seeley 
and St. John walking home from Rices,where they had been attend- 
ing a Sabbath school, talked of the matter of establishing a Sun- 



458 " HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

day scliool nearer home, circumstances favoring them a class 
was formed which developed, into a Congregational society of 
thirteen members, organized by Rev. W. Coleman. Meetings were 
held alternately in the houses of Deacons Seeley and St. John, 
and afterwards contiuously in the school house a number of 
souls of being added in the interim. 

The iNIethodists, while many of the early settV^rs were of that 
faith formed no class until 18G9, when Elder Mapes, organized a 
society of fifteen members. In 1874, the Methodists dedicated a 
church in Riceville, a commodious and attractive gothic struc- 
ture. 

The Baptist interest is quite an entensive one, and is embodied 
in a Riceville church beyond the boundaries of the county. 

The hotel was opened in 1870 by James Hendricks on the north- 
west quarter of section thirty. 

The first post office was established in 1856 at the steam mill, 
with D. P. Bradford to handle the letters. This post office after 
being moved to the house of Erastus Leache, where it was burned 
and never re-established, but removed to that part of Riceville that 
lies within the boundaries of Mitchell county. 

HOWARD CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 

In 1877, Laban Hassett, one of the older settlers and for many 
years county surveyor, wrote a history of this town, which was 
published in the Cresco Times from which we freely quote, by 
permission. The account recites, in "the first place, that H. K. 
Averill, deputy U. S. surveyor, says in regard to to the section in 
question. 

"This township, lying as it does, at the head of one of the main 
branches of the Turkey river, is remarkably smooth and even. It 
is possessed with a preponderance of first-rate soil, and is tolerably 
well watered by creeks and marshes. There are but few springs in 
the township. No minerals are found, within its boundaries. 

'•Settlement was first made in the eastern part of the precinct, in 
1855 by Royal 0. Thayer, who arrived in April of that year." 

Immediately following him we find the names of Alfred 
Eldridge and Willard E. Thayer, as pioneers of this section. In 
1855, came also Ira Eldridge, who at once proceeded to erect a 
Btore, having brought with him a stock of goods. It was with great 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 459 

difficulty that he obtained lumber for the purpose of i^uilding his 
store. 

A small part of it he got from Harlows mill at New Oregon, 
and the balance he brought from the Mississppi river, except the 
studs and rafters which later were hewn out of poles cut in the 
grove. 

The roof was made of lap shingles, split from oak timber. 
Early in September, he opened his stock of goods. He also pre- 
empted the northeast quarter of section 36. 

Michael Creamer and Patrick Mullen were also among the 
pioneers of that year, and Mr. Hassett reports that in the following 
year, viz: 

In 1850, that there were added to the population, of the town- 
ship about forty pre-emptors; among whose names we find those 
of Wm. Conery, John F. Thayer, Wm. A. and Calvin F. Webster, 
Henry A. Cook, Laban Hassett, Lawence Long and others. 

In the spring of 1856, John F. Thayer, commenced the erection 
of a hotel, where Howard Centre now stands, which was so far 
con)pleted on July 4th, that it was used for a dinning room and 
dance hall, although the sesond story was not j^et up. 

"The 4th of July," says Mr. Hassett, "was celebrated in a grove 
south of the creek, where seats were very conveniently arranged 
for the attendants. 

"The principal speakers were James G. Upton and M. V. Bur- 
dick. IMr. B. delivering the oration. Allusion was made to the 
fact, that the camp fires of the Indians had been but recently ex- 
tinguished, and yet, about 200 persons were in attendance to cele- 
brate the nations birthday. New Oregon and Vernon Springs, 
furnishing a large jaortion of the assemblage." 

The town of Howard Centre (which now boasted of a hotel and 
store,) was laid out and platted, and put upon record. The 
acknowledgement of the plat bears date December 1, 1856, and is 
signed by Calvin F. Webster, Jno. F. Thayer, and wife, Thomas 
R. Perry and wife, W. E. Thayer and wife, and Royal O. Thayer 
and wife. 

A hack was run to Decorah for the accomodation of individ- 
uals, and to bring supplies. 

The fall of 1856, having been very dry, the infant settlement 
suffered much damage from prairie fires, and winter setting in with 



460 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

the greatest intensit}^ and is remembered to this day by those who 
experienced it, as the coldest they ever knew, many of the poor 
settlers suffered much. Many of them had not time to finish their 
houses, and Avere poorly protected from the wintery blasts. Several 
persons Avere frozen to death in the awful "blizzard" of the 13th of 
December, among them Wm. Niles of this town. 

Thayers hotel was burned on the 5th of February, 1857, when 
the air was so filled with snow flakes, that his neighbors half a 
mile distant did not see the flames. 

Mr. Hassett relates that, "a school was in session m the hall, taught 
by W. B. Stone, and the fire caught from the stove pipe. Mr. 
Thayer Avas absent in the grove, after timber to build a barn, and 
when he reached home took in the situation; he commenced hum- 
ming a tune in a manner peculiar to John F., and said: "Well I 
may as well draw this stick up there; I shall need a shanty to 
live in;" and accordingly left the timber by the burning coals. He 
had the hotel rebuilt, larger than before, and in readyness for 
occupation by the 4th of July next." 

The first post oflSce was established in March, 1857, and Henry 
A. Cook Avas the first postmaster. He soon resigned, and was suc- 
ceeded by A. M. Pettitt. 

"The order for the organization of Howard Centre township, 
isssued to John F. Thayer, by Judge Upton and attested by E. 
Gillett, Avas dated March 13th, 1857." The first election was held 
at the house of J. F. Thayer, on the 6th of April, 1857, at which 
tAventy "three votes were polled. 

Frank S. TreAV, was elected Justice of the peace; Ira Eldridge, 
Chas. H. Wood and Calvin F. Webster, township trustees; T. R. 
Perry, township clerk; R. O. Thayer and O. A. Bunker, consta- 
bles. The judges of this election were C. H. Wood, J. Webster 
and Jno. F. Thayer; and the clerks, T. R. Perry and William A. 
Webster. 

At the organization of the township schoor'?,board,';;May 7th, 
1857. O. G. Talmage, Avas chosen president, Thos. R.'^Perr}^ secre- 
tary, and C. H. Wood, treasurer. The meeting was adjourned for 
four weeks to take into consideration the erection of a ^school 
house. 

The first tax levied in the toAvnship was voted on the first 
day of June, 1857, for the purpose of building a school house. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 461 

During the spring of 1857, a Sunday school was established at 
Howard Centre, through the agency of the American Sunday 
school Union. L. Hassest was the Superintendent, with Mrs. T. 
R. Perry as assistant. Rev. John W. Windsor, preached at 
Howrad Centre, once in two weeks during a large part of 1S57-8, 
and Rev. C. E. Brown, in 1858-9. 

Howard Centre was made the county seat of Howard county, 
by Judge Upton, and the records Avere removed there in October, 
1857 and remained there, until the locating of the seat of county 
government on the hill, between New Oregon and Vernon Springs, 
in 1858. 

The Northern Light, a six-column folio sheet, published by Geo. 
W. Haislet was started in the fall of 1858, and continued to be 
issued for about a year. From its advertisements, it may be 
learned, that R. 0. Thayer kept a livery, and J. W. Walters solici- 
ted patronage as a carpenter and builder. 

The first marriage ceremony solominzed in the township was by 
S. L. Hassett, justice of the peace, who on the 11th of May, 1859,, 
united in wedlock, B. F. Benson and Melissa Halsted. 

The first child born in the Tp. was C. F. Bunker, advent on 
Ociober 1, 1856, added a prospective voter to the county. The 
first girl was Irene E. Eldridge, born on Sunday, May 17, 1857. 
The first death was that of Mr. Wm. Niles, frozen to death, Decem- 
ber 13, 1856, as related before. 

The Howard Centre cemetery was laid out in June, 1863, the- 
first person interred therein being Mrs. Harriet, N. Talmage, who,, 
in an unfortunate state of mind, had drowned herself in the Turkey 
river near her house. This happened on ' the night of Nov. 1,, 
1862. 

ALBION TOWNSHIP. 

This was known as Osborne township until 1860, when its name 
was changed to the present one of Albion. It occupies congressional 
township 100, range 11, west, bordering the Minnesota line. Along 
its northern boundary runs the clear rock bottomed and spring 
made waters of the Upper Iowa river. There is an abundance of 
timber along the banks of the river, and extending some distance 
back. Bass, elm, maple, and ash being the predominating species, 
but some pines are to be met with. As has been most beautifully 
aid: "However, the crowning beauty of all this section, is the 



462 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

handsome groves that are universally found on the highest points 
of land, and in this respect Albion township can bear the pahn." 
The streams are all of the purest quality — liquid diamonds, so 
to speak — owing their origin solely to the springs gushing from 
their homes in the limestone, and within the cool waters the trout 
and bass still linger lovingly. Some of the first pioneers in the 
•civilization of Howard county settled within what is now the 
boundaries of tliis township. The first whose name we have is 
Daniel Crowell, who located therein as early as the spring of 1853. 
Almost at the same time Andrew Nelson located his claim on 
section 10, and erected the family cabin, and in 1854 he was fol- 
lowed by C. S. Thurber. But for this year the incomers were like 
angels' visits — few and. far between — but in 1855 the great tide of 
immigration, which came to our state, caused quite a ripple thither- 
ward, and the beautiiul prairies and lovely valleys of Howard 
county began to be thickly dotted with smiling farms, and smoke 
aroge from the many cabins that were sprinkled over the verdant 
■ bosom uf mother earth. 

Among those who in the spring of that year took up their abode 
.among us, we find: Oliver Arnold, Thos. Osborn, H. D. Lapham, 
W. I). Darrow, but these are but a few of the many whose names 
are boine by the recollections of those who remain. In 1856 a 
still Inrger wave bf immigration flowed this wa}'', and every suc- 
ceeding year until the ijloody da^'s of the civil war, when it slacked 
up for some time, only to begin again in these later days. 

This township was part of the precinct of Vernon Springs, until 
1857, wlien in, the sj)ring of this year it withdrew itself, and com- 
pleted a separate organization. There was cast at this election 
: some forty-eight votes, and .losiah Kelly was elected town clerk, 
with .James Nichols and James Oakley, justices of the peace. 

The first church organization in the township was Baptist in 
denomination, and was effected in the spring months of 1856, with 
Rev. T. H. Miner as pastor. 

The Methodist church society was formed the same year, under 
the energy and faithful efforts of the Rev. Win. Lease. 

.lu the month of March the Church of Christ was organized, 
■mainly owing to the etforts of Rev. \Vm. Phillips; the society 
numbered at its start some twenty members. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 463 

One of the early settlers says: "The character of the early 
settlers of Osborne may be drawi>from the fact of their thus early 
organizing religious societies." 

The first school in the precinct seems to have been opened in 
the latter part of the year 1856, and "svas taught by Dr. Lewis 
Reynolds; the school was small, but the increase was rapid so that 
in 1859 the scholars in the township numbered some one hundred 
and forty. 

At the same time there Avas over eighty legal voters in the same 
territory, and many Avho were not yet admitted to the privileges of 
franchise. 

In 1855, at Arnoldsville, was established the first postoffice, but 
it was of short duration, when it was remoyed to Osborne; A. 
Allen being the postmaster. 

The statement is made by H. D. Noble, that, "In 1858, Osborne 
like all other places had its theme ol excitement. In that year 
the gold fever broke out; but happily very few 'found the color', 
except in the faces of bilious, cadaverous, tired and jaundiced 
diggers. Hence its short life and speedy cure. The only gold in 
this section of the country will be found not by digging to pipe- 
clay, or bedrock, but in the rich loam that lies on the surface — 
the golden grain that feeds the world." 

It is said that the first death that occurred in this vicinity, was 
that of Robert Gilchrist, who froze to death during the winter 
of 1854-5. 

"Quarries of limestone and sandstone, and on the Iowa river 
quarries of rock straight as the mason's hammer could dress them, 
and smoother, too, :\ve found." 

With the exception of the postoffice village at Florenceville, in 
the extreme northern portion of the township, there is no town nor 
village, no fine farm broken to make a poor straggling village, but 
the whole section is given over to a constant succession, of smiling 
farms and grazing grounds, covered with emerald verdure. 

NEW OREGON TOWNSHIP. 

We are indebted for the following history of New Oregon town- 
ship, to a paper written by H. D. Noble, one of the old settlers, 
and published in the Cresco Times, July 6, 187G. 

"New Oregon was one of the first locations chosen by the 
pioneers, who first made Howard county their home. 'Oregon 



464 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

Grove' was known far and near, and was a landmark to all western 
hunters and rovers in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. 
The precincts of New Oregon consists of the north half of town- 
ship ninety -seven and township ninety-eight range eleven. 

The first settlement was made in 1851, by Hiram Johnson. In 
1858, Wm. Cottrell, H. Shuttleworth, and Wm. Brown fir t made 
claims in and about Oregon Grove. S. M. Cole, George Schofield, 
J. F. Mitchell, and others soon followed, and in 1855 a sufficient 
population had gathered to effect a permanent organization. Paris 
was included in the precinct as then formed. Daniel Mills was 
elected the first justice of the peace, and Samuel Coyl township 
clerk. 

"Uncle" George Schofield built the first house in what has since 
grown to be the village of New Oregon. In the same year C. M. 
Munson opened a store near by, which was followed by others 
until the business part of town, in 1859, consisted of six stores, 
one wagon shop, plow shop, one harness maker, a tin shop, two 
tailor shops, three shoe shops, two blacksmith shops, a steam saw- 
mill, etc. 

This village is on both sides of the Turkey river, and in the 
north edge of Oregon Grove. 

At the same time it did not lack for professional ability, tor it 
had within its jurisdiction one doctor J. J. Clemmer, and three 
lawyers, C. E. Berry, F. H. Jewett, and \V. R. Mead. 

Here was taught the first school in the count3^ In 1854 it was 
opened for scholars, and Miss Harriet Cole was the presiding 
genius, and with smiling face lured the youth to flowery paths of 
knowledge. Daniel Mills taught tlie first village school, which 
was established during the winter of 1856-7. 

The Congregational church was organized at the hamlet of New 
Oregon, in 1856, and Rev. J. W. Windsor was installed as pastor.. 

The church, at first, was weak and feeble, as all such societies 
are in a new country, and their services were held as circumstances 
permitted. The iollowing lines were written about the church of 
early days, and breathe the very essence of true poetry. One of 
Howard county's gifted daughters is the author, but by her request 
we suppress the name, which modesty will not allow her to have 
given it to the world. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 465 

THE OLD LOG CHURCH. 

On olden walls, in memory's hall, 

With roses 'round it clinging: 
A picture rare, of antique air. 

The old log church is swinging. 

Of timbers rough, and gnarled and tough, 

It stands in rustic beauty; 
A monument to good intent 

And loyal, Christian duty. 

The forest trees, kissed by the breeze 

Of early autumn weather, 
Stand grimly by, and seem to sigh 

And bend their boughs together. 

Down by the mill, and up the hill, 

And through the hazel thicket, 
And o'er the mead brown pathways lead 

Up to the rustic wicket. 

And by these ways, on holy days, 

The village folks collected. 
And humbly heard the sacred word 
And worshipped unaffected. 

Sweet fancy's art and poet's heart 

Can see the old time preacher 
And village sage now turn the page, 

As minister or teacher. 

For in the church, with dreaded birch, 

On week days he presided. 
In awful mien, a tutor seen, 

'Twixt lore and licks divided. 

But where it stood, in dappled wood, 

A village sprang to life; 
And jolly noise of barefoot boj'^s 

Is lost in business strife. 



466 HISTOKY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

With years now flown, the children grown, 
Are launched on life's mad billows; 

The pretty maid is matron staid, 
The master's 'neath the willows. 

i Methodist Episcopal church was also formed during the year 
1858, of which Rev. WaterLury was the initial pastor. The 
organization of a Roman Catholic church was attained in the 
course of the same year. 

The natural location of the precinct of New Oregon is unsur- 
passed. Through its center,, from northwest to southeast, runs the 
Turkey river, and emptying into this stream are spring streams 
that are found in all this section of Iowa. A fine body of timber, 
including all the varieties of our prolific v/est, borders the river, 
and furnishes to all the region round about timber for fuel, fences, 
and buildings. 

The hard maple, elm white oak, and basswood form the bulk of 
this grove. Underlying this section is fine quarry limestone, fit 
for all purposes of building. 

Through the southern part of the township (97), runs the Little 
Turkey river, fringed with groves and watering a beautiful prairie 
of moist stock-growing land." 

After the building of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and 
the consequent springing into being of the town of Cresco, the 
buisiness of New Oregon experienced the same fate that thousands 
of other thriving villages that have dotted these broad lands of 
ours, sank into comparative oblivion, the grass growing on the 
streets and all business at a stand still. People still reside there, 
for it is in the paradise of the county, but the stillness that reigns 
there makes one feel sadly that the tired and weary struggbr had- 
laid down and rested from life's weary battle, and that it is no 
longer sought to buffet the waves of adverse fortune. 

CHESTER .\ND OAKDALE TOWNSHIPS. 

These were united in one township until October 11, 1859, under 
the name of Iowa. River Precinct, when they were separated and 
placed as now. The history of the two is so commingled that it 
seems impossible at this day to seperate them, and hence we leave 
them like two lovers in fond eiubrace. For the facts in regard to 



HISTOltY OK HOWARD COUNTY. 467 

them we acknowledge ourselves under obligations to L. E. Smith, 
of the Cresco Times, who has kindly placed at our disposal many 
ptipers in regard to the same. 

Chester precinct occupies the congressional township 100, range 
13, and Oakdale 100, range 14, and are the most western of the 
northern tier. The Iowa river meanders along through the 
northern sections, the pure, limpid stream shimmering in the sun, 
and adding beauty to the landscape already charmde with the 
emerald velvety verdure of the native grass, and the golden amber 
of the ripening grain, while groves of trees interspersed break up 
what" might prove to monotonous a view, where earth and sky 
alone are seen. 

Henry Brown, in May 1853, made the first settlement in the 
township now known as Oakdale, and for nearly a year he had 
the unbroken solitude to himself, for there were no settlers but 
him until 1<S54. 

During the summer of that year Robt. Jerod, Josiah Laws, 0. 
M. Thayer, and M. Gates laid the foundation for the settlement 
that now graces this vicinity. They were, shortly, lollowed by A. 
W. Kingsley, Norman Freeman, C. M. Sawyer, and others. 

Settlers having gathered in a suliicient number to justify the 
measure, withdrew the precinct from Jamestown, to Avhich it had 
originally beeii attached, and organized as a separate township, 
holding an election for that purpose in April, 1857. which resulted 
in the election of John Adams and W. Y. Wells for justices of the 
peace, and C. M. Sawyer, town clerk. At this election forty-nine 
votes were polled. 

The first regular district school was taught by Salinda Burknap, 
in the fall of 1857, although there still lingers a trace of a tradition 
that in the previous winter a school was taught, but of this there 
seems to be no certainty, nor is the name of the teacher remem- 
bered. 

Within the boundaries of the two townships there is Init one 
village, viz: Chester; the land being occupied with fine farms, and 
capital grazing grounds. All along the northern jjart of the town- 
ships fine timber abounds, and pure water from the many springs 
that gush from the lap of the earth. 



468 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



CHESTER, 

the only village, ia still but a small place, being too near towns 
having a larger growth, and whose proximity overshadow it. 
It was laid out, in March, 1858, by A. Eaton, and in 1859 already 
contained six dwellings, a tavern, and a school house. 

The first postoffice was also started here, being established in 
January, 1858, with A. Eaton as postmaster. 

There was a Methodist Episcopal church organized in March, 
1858, with seven members; Rev. Norton, of Spring Valley, Minn., 
supplying the pulpit and attending to the spiritual wants of the 
little Jaock. 







^l. 



\\ V- 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 469 



CHAPTER XI. 



Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Incidents of Frontier Life, 
Given by Early SEtTLERS. 



taking it coolly. 

The last night of 1855, a party of four men crossed the Missis- 
sippi, at Dubuque, and found a new years ball in progress, at the 
Key City house, (where numbers of people found a resting place, 
on their way to northern Iowa). At Dubuque they hired a teams- 
ter to take them to Howard county. 

As they approached Burr Oak Springs, that first Sunday in Jan- 
uary 1856, the cold and wind increased, while the falling snow so 
whitened. the track before them, that it could only be distinguished 
by the withered grass which bordered it. They urged their driver 
to halt without avail, he was confident that he could make his way 
after dark without difliculty. A little further, on where the prairie 
fires had left no grasss to mark the roadsides, they were as effect- 
ually lost a few rods from the track, as though they had been 
miles away. Seeking the road they went as far apart as their 
voices should be heard, but after repeated efforts failed to find it. 

The}' then lost no time in making preperations to spend the 
night in such a manner as, if possible, to secure their lives. They 
cleared the covered wagon box of trunks and luggage, tacked 
down the cover securely, and without being able to stand upright, 
exercised, two at a time as if for wages. The teamster alone lay 
down, wrapping his feet in the contents of his carpet sack, and he 
alone was frost-bitten. By force of kicking they had to rouse 



470 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

him from danger. Had they trusted to wraps, bedclothing and 
buffalo robes — with which they were well supplied — and lain 
down to sleep, they would have paid the penalty with their lives. 
"The mercury must have stood forty degrees below zero" said 
Dr. Fellows, who related this story of himself, his two brothers 
and R. Kerr, they afterwards learned, that a number of persons 
perished from exposure the same night. 

The two succeeding days were so cold, that but few people 
left their houses. All that these young men had that night, in 
the way of nourishment, was a few small cakes and a bottle of bra- 
ndy, the latter supplied the stimulus, that helped preserve 
them . 

The early settlers met and organized a "squatter government," 
agreeing among themselves, that certain persons should act as 
officers. The "justice of the peace" named, was a lad of about 
nineteen years of age, Samuel Coyl, by name. A party, charged 
with larcen}^, was brought before "Sam" one day for trial. His 
honor, listened, with all the gr^ivity of a deacon, to the evidence, 
which fully proved, that the accused, had broKen open a compan- 
ion's trunk, and purloined, therefrom, the sum of forty dol- 
lars. 

But "Sam" fully understood his want of jurisdiction, and proceed- 
ed to render the verdict, as folloAVs: "Guilty ^ — g^^ilty as hell, and 
the court knows it from the evidence — but they can't prove it — 
Scoot — scoot, or judge Lynch will hold court here to-morrow.'' 

The culjjrit disapeared forth with. 

The county of Howard, was settled from every land, and every 
clime, but very few, if any experienced business men, came among 
the early settlers. As might be expected, therefore, many mis- 
takes were made in the "forms and ceremonies," and occasionally 
in the records. One young officer — young in years and young in 
office — when he carried a record from, one to a succeeding page, 
instead of noting the number of the future page, made this note, 
at the bottom of the first page, "see page ahead a little." 

"It is told, that Howard county, from its organization, never 
elected, on a party vote, a democratic officer, yet the party kept up 
its annual county conventions for twenty 3^ears. At one of these 
conventions, only two persons were present. They were both 
of the legal profession. One was a large and the other was a small 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 471 

man, and the larger acted as president, and the other as secretary 
of the ''assembly." They put drink in their stomachs and a full 
county ticket in the political field. The secretary, in finishing his 
report, said that "the attendance at the convention Avas large and 
respectable." The president protested and said: It is true, Mr. 
secretary, we seem to be many, but do you not notice that on the 
ayes and noes, that but two of us answer." The secretary replied: 
"Mr. president, if there is but two of us here, I insist that the 
report is correct, for are you not large and am not I respectable." 

The folloAving lines were written by a gentleman now residing 
in the county, and who was one of its earliest settlers; he has 
followed many trades and professions, and has been a leading 
farmer for the last quarter of a century. We insert it smply as a 
Bpecimen of the culture that may be found in these climes, for it 
is, by long odds, the superior of the usual mediocre poetry — so 
called — that floats through the columns of the press of the day. 
It is said of the author, that although many of the poor, have 
been indebted to him for considerable amounts of money, yet he 
has never collected one cent by execution, or sale of property on 
mortgage. Such men are few and far between, but the fates have 
rewarded him and enabled him, through labor and business *\act, 
to achieve a comfortable competence. 

The anagram "Live on no evil" is probably the best in the English 
language. Spelled backward or forward it reads the same. Its 
sentiment expresses the essence of the ten commandments: 

LIVE ON NO EVIL. 

"Live on no evil," reads the same 
As forth and back we trace the line; 

It is the voice of God to man, 

Proclamied from Sinai's height devine, 

"Live on no evil," church or state. 
But God-like rule with love, not hate. 

"Live on no evil," landlord bold. 

But so divide the loaf and sheaf 
That tenant's children filled Avith glee. 

Shall bless the hand that gives relief. 
"Live on no evil," church or stata, 

But God-like rule with love, not hate. 



472 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

"Live on no evil," merchant grand, 

That shoddy cloth that brings you gain, 

In rags hangs from the wearer's back, 
The cold bites in and gives him pain. 

"Live on no evil," church or state, 

But God-like, rule with love, not hate. 

"Live on no evil," railroad kings, 

Nor scorn our rights with haughty brow, 

Those pondrous engines on those roads, 
Must in the wake of mercy go. 

"Live on no evil," church or state. 

But God-Like, rule, with love, not hate. 

"Live on no evil," money lords. 
Your fiercest grasp shall prove your woe, 

In life's last grasp with deep regrets, 
And hellish moans you'll cry out, oh! 

"Live on no evil," church or state. 
But God-like, rule with love, not hate. 

"Live on no evil," man of soul, 
• But right the wrong with all thy might. 

When conscience all our acts control. 

We all may speak from Sinai's height. 
"Live on no evil," church or state. 
But God-like, rule with love, not hate, 

— [M. B. Doolittle. 

One of the members of the board of supervisors of the county, 
wishing the board to do its full duty under the law, presented 
the following resolution, which was adopted and placed on the 
minutes, instructing the township assessors as to what was their 
duty : 

"Resolved, That the assessors assess every thing that wears a 
yoke as an ox, and everything that gives milk a as cow." 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 473 



CHAPTER XII. 



War Record; Action of the Board of Supervisors of Howard 
County; Third Iowa Infantry; Ninth Iowa Infantry; Thirty- 
Eighth Iowa Infantry; Third Iowa Battery of Light Artil- 
lery; Roster op Volunteers. 



The people of the northern states may well be proud of the 
record they made in the dark and bloody days of the great civil 
war. When the war was pressed on the country, the people of 
this peaceful Northland were pursuing the even tenor of their 
way, doing whatsoever their hands found to do — making farms or' 
cultivating those already made — erecting houses and homes, build- 
ing shops and factories, and the whole country was alive with 
industry, and the future was rosy with promise. The county was 
just recovering itself from the financial panic of 1857, and the 
failure of the crops of 1858-9. The future looked bright and 
promisihg, and the industrious and patriotic sons and daughters 
of the free states were bouyant with hope, and looking forward to 
new plans for the ensurement of comfort and competence in their 
declining years, and they little heeded the muttering and threaten- 
ings of the wayward children of the slave states of the sunny 
south. 



474 HISTORY OF HOWABD COUNTY. ♦ 

Like the true sons and decendents of sires, whose sturdy arm 
had withstood Britannia's mighty power in the infant days of our 
noble republic, they gave no heed to the whisperings of fear, or 
dreamed that one could be so base as to stand back when their 
country called them, but all flocked to the front to meet dire 
treason face to face, and smite it as it stood. 

April 12, 1861, Major Robert Anderson, the commandant at Fort 
Sumter, in (Charleston harbor. South Carolina, was fired upon by 
the hot headed rebels then in arms. 

Although the blackest treason, men looked upon it as the sense- 
less bravado of the would-be agitator, as the empty vaporing of a 
few senseless fools, whose sectional bias and hatred of free institu- 
tion had enraged and intoxicated them. 

When a day later the telegraph wires bore to a startled north 
the stirring news, that Major Anderson had been compelled to 
surrender, to what had been at first regarded as a drunken mob; 
then the people looked and saw behind the curtain the dark spirit 
of treason stalk forth throughout the land. The patriotism that 
was bred in them leaped up and burned a steady flame upon the 
altar of their country. 

Thus startled, as it were, from their bright dreams of the future, 
fro'm undertakings half completed, and realized that, that mob had 
behind it a dark purpose; a deep, dark, well organized plan to 
disrupt this great Union, destroy the government, and to erect 
upon the ruins the oligarchy of slavery, and a slave-holding 
aristocracy. 

But it was "reckoning without their host," for immediately upon 
the receipt of the news of the surrender of Fort Sumpter, President 
Lincoln, who but a few short weeks before had taken the oath of 
oflice as chief executive of the nation's will, issued a proclamation, 
calling for 75,000 men, volunteers for three months. Scarcely had 
the ink dried upon the pen, scarcely had the wires stopped vibrat- 
ing with the message, as it sped along through all the northern 
states, then the call was filled. Men were counted out by thous- 
ands and money poured with lavish hand into the lap of the 
nation. The people who loved their land and government, could 
not give enough. Patriotism vibrated and pulsed and thrilled 
through every heart. The merchant left his counter, the farmer 
his plow, the bench gave up the judge, and even the college and 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 475 

school furnished their porportion of the nation's defenders. Ail 
lines of party were swept away, and but one thought seemed to 
animate each breast — save the Union. 

Not with insolence was the insolent flinging of the gauntlet met, 
but with the calm, determined mien of heroes, whose patriotism 
and love of country overpowered every other consideration. 

But seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the 
rebellion — nor were ten times that number. The war went on and 
call followed call,until it seemed that all the able-bodied men were 
in the front, fighting the battles of their country. But to every 
call, men and mone}'' were freely offered, readily and freely given? 
and the people determined to crush out the foul treason and sub- 
due the rebellion. 

Such were the impulses, motives, and actions of the patriots of 
the "Northland," among whom Howard's sons bore a conspicuous 
part. 

Tuesday, June 4, 1861, the board of supervisors, in session 
assembled, ])y resolution appointed a committee, consisting of 
Messrs. Gary Munson and St. John, to draft resolutions "in the 
present crisis of nationa. afftiirs, and recommend some offers of 
assistance to the general government." 

The committee appointed, at once presented the following reso- 
lutions, which were immediately adopted: 

Whereas, The president of the United States has issued his 
several proclamations for troops, to sustain our federal government, 
and suppress the rebellion, therefore. 

Resolved, That we, as the legal representatives of the county of 
Howard, state of Iowa, do hereby, as loyal citizens and representa- 
tives, pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honors in sup- 
port of the Union, the constitution, and the laws. 

Resolved, That the resources and credit of the county of Howard, 
both in men and money, be pledged to the last man and dollar 
to support the government in suppressing the present rebellion: 

Resolved, That in case of reverses to our arms, making necessary 
an increase of our army, we will levy a tax on the taxable property 
of our county, sufficient to support a company of one hundred 
men, at least, in the field, by paying them five dollars extra over 
government price. 

Resolved, That we fully endorse the course of the administra- 



476 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

tion, and the action of our state legislature in regard to the present 
emergency." 

At the September session of the board they passed another reso- 
lution, to pay ten dollars to each volunteer from the county for an 
outfit. Also to allow the wives and widowed mothers of the 
volunteers from Howard county, in service of the United States, 
four dollars per month, and one dollar for each child under twelve 
years of age. The clerk was ordered to audit their bills monthly, 
and when so passed the treasurer to cash them at once. The first 
who seems to have availed themselves of this allowance, was Mrs. 
Amelia Johnson, of New Oregon, she having two sons in the 
federal army. 

At the August session of the board, 1862, the following resolu- 
tion was adopted: 

Resolved, That this board authorize the clerk to issue a county 
warrant for fifty dollars to each accepted volunteer, not the head 
of the family; and four dollars per month for each wife and 
widowed mother, and one dollar for each child of the same, under 
twelve years of age, of every accepted volunteer, on presentation 
of proper bills, provided, that all of said volunteers be applied on 
the quota of Howard county for the late call for 300,000 men for 
three years, or during the war. 

December 7, 1863, is the date of the following resolution adopted 
by the honorable board: 

Resolved, that this board hereby appropriate the sum of three 
hunderd dollars to each accepted volunteer who shall enlist, from 
this county, between this and the fifth day of January next, pro- 
vided, this resolution shall not extend to enlistments beyond 
filling our quota. Also the sum of four dollars per month to the 
wife, and one dollar per month t > each child under twelve years of 
age, as an additional bounty to the family of any accepted volun- 
teer, who enlists from the county within the term above specified, 
and that the clerk of this board be and is hereby authorized to 
issue warrants, to parties entitled thereto, on presentation of the 
proper certificates. And that we hereby levy an additional tax of 
fifteen mills on the dollar, for the purposes of the above bounty, 
and hereby instruct the clerk, to immediately, extend the same on 
the tax list of this year. 



HISTORY OF HOWAED COUNTY. 477 

As late as June, 1866, the following appear* upon the minutes 
of the board: 

"Board passed a resolution to pay every enlisted man the sum 
of one hundred dollars, as bounty, who was either a regular or 
volunteer, and who had received no bounty from this or any other 
county or state, including all drafted men, who were credited 
to Howard county. Also to men who enlisted, and through no 
fault of their own, were credited to other places; and also to make 
up the sum, to one hundred dollars, to all who enlisted from 
the county, when the bounty given was a less sum than that 
amount." 

THIRD IOWA INFANTRY. 

As a number of the men from Howard county were enlisted in 
this, one of the most noted of the Iowa regiments, a short sketch 
will not be out of place. 

The "Old Third," as it is lovingly called by its late members,, 
was organized in Dubuque, by Colonel N. G. Williams, and 
mustered into the service of the government, JVlay, 1861. The 
officers were: N.G.Williams, colonel; John ^cott, lieut. colonel; 
Wm. M. Stone, major. 

Its initial fight was at Blue Mills, Mo.; where it laid the founda- 
tion for its after reputation as one of the best in the service. It 
also took a foremost part at Shiloh, Tonn; Hatchie river, Mata- 
moras, Vicksburg, and Jackson, Miss; Atlanta, and participated in 
the Atlanta campaign, and Shei man's march to Savannah. 

The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 
1864. 

NINTH IOWA INFANTRY. 

Col. William Vandever, of Dubuque, received, in August, 1861,. 
a commission to raise a regiment of Infantry in the state of Iowa, 
to be known as the ninth Iowa infantry. 

Howard county, with the fires of patriotism burning brightly on 
her altars, contributed sixty-eight men for company I, and four 
for company H. 

The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, 
^September 24, 1861, except companies H, I, and D, whose times of 
muster precede that date, being respectively, H Aug. 21, I Septem- 
ber 18th, and 1) September 2d. On the 26th of September the 



478 HISTORY OV HOWARD COUNTY. 

regiment left Dubuque, for St. Louis, on the steamer Canada, and 
arrived at that place on the 30th. 

Here they remained for some time. After drilling, and inspec- 
tion, for a considerable time, the regiment was pronunced fit for 
duty, and on the 25th of January, 1862, was moved by rail to 
Rolla, Missouri, and assigned to the army, then making preperation 
to take the field against the enemy, under Major-General Samuel 
R. Curtis. 

The regiment was brigaded with the 25th Missouri infantry, 
third Illinois cavalry and third Iowa battery, and the brigade 
placed under the command of Col. Wm. Vandever, baring the 
ninth, under the cdiimand of Lieutenant Frank Herron. The 
movements, of this regiment has been given in the history of the 
third Iowa battery, with which it was brigaded and whose exploits 
are there related by an eye witness. 

The exploits of this gallant regiment, at the battle of Pea Ridge, 
have covered it with unfading laurels. The loss it suffered alone 
would tell the tale, had we no better testimony, having, three 
ofHcers, two non-commissioned officers, and twenty-eight privates 
killed; six officers, thirty-eight non-commissioned officers and one 
hundred and thirty -nine privates wounded, many of whom after- 
wards died, and two privates missing. 

Besides this engagement, called by the federal forces, the battle 
of Pea Ridge and by tlie rebels the battle of the Elkliorn, the rgi- 
ment took part in the fighting at Chickasaw ba3^ou, Arkansas 
Post, seige of Vicksburg, Ringgold, Dallas, Lookout Mountain, and 
were participants in the Avorld renowned Atlanta campaign, 
and the subsequent march to the sea. 

The ninth finally laid down its arms and was mustered out at 
Louisville,. July 18, 1865. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH IOWA INFANTRY. 

Company I., of this regiment, was almost entirely, composed of 
men from Howard county. 

The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, 
at Dubuque, November 4, 1862, with D. H. Hughes, of Decorah, 
. as colonel. It took a part in the seige of Vicksburg, the Red 
river expedition under Ranks, and December 12, 1864, was consol- 
idated with the. thirty-fourth infantry. Was mustered out at 
Houston, Texas, August 15,1865. For full details of the move- 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUMTY. 47,9 

ments of the regiment see page 307, history of Chickasaw county. 

THIRD IOWA BATTERY OF LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

As quite a number of the "boys" from Howard county were in 
the third Iowa battery it has been deemed of interest to give here 
a sketch of the same. We are indebted to the official report for 
the facts and quote freely from it. 

"This battery was organized by Captain M. M. Hayden, under 
special authority from the secretary of war, during the months of 
August and September, 1861, at Dubuque, under the name of the 
the Dubuque Battery, and was attached to the 9th regiment Iowa 
volunteer infantry. Col. William Vandever, commanding. On 
the 3d of September, 1861, the first detachment was mustered in 
by Captain Washington, William H. McCluve, of Cedar Falls, 
Iowa, being mustered as first lieutenant, under whose charge the 
detachment was placed in Camp Union, near Dubuque. 

"The battery was speedily filled up be recruits, and on the 24th 
of the same month, the final muster in as a battery took place; the 
following being the list of officers: 

"Captain M. M. Hayden; senior first lieutenant, W. H. McCluve; 
junior first lieutenant, M. C. Wright; senior second lieutenant, W. 
H. Crozier; and junior 2d lieutenant, Jerome Bradley. September 
26th, the battery in company with the ninth Iowa infantry, left 
for St. Louis, on the steamer, Canada, arriving on the 30th of Sep- 
tember. 

"The drill was here commenced, and clothing, etc., served out, 
the necessary requisitions being made out for horses, guns, 
harness, etc., were forwarded but owing to small supply and im- 
mense demand they had some time to wait for them. 

"November 13th, the men were sent to Pacific Cit}'-, Missouri, 
thirty-five miles west of St. Louis, to guard the railroad, although 
it would have puzzled any one to tell how, as they had no arms 
of any kind. Here they remained during the greater part of the 
winter. The guns and equipments were received by them Decem- 
ber 1st. 

"The battery consisted of four six-pounder bronze guns, and two 
twelve-pounder howitzers. After much drilling and inspections 
and reviews, in connection with the 9th regiment, they were pro- 
nounced as fit for duty, and that with the reputation of being first 
class in every particular. 



480 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY, 

"On the 25th of January, they moved by rail to Rolla, and as- 
signed to tlie army, then about to take the field, under General 
Curtis, and whicli intended to move on Springfield, Mo., then the 
headquarters of the rebel forces in that state. The l)attery set out 
for the rendezvous of Curtis' army, at Lebanon on the the twenty- 
eighth of January, sixt^'^-five miles, over one of the worst roads 
ever seen. 

"The continual rain and cold made this one of the most trying 
marches raw troops could be called on to perform ; but in spite of 
all, after six day's of hard labor, the battery reached Lebanon. 
Here they were brigaded with the ninth Iowa infantry, twenty- 
fifth Missouri infantry, and third Illinois cavalry, Col \Vm. Van- 
dever commading." 

The following is related in his report, by Capt. M. C.Wright, who 
commanded the battery in 1864. As it is the testimony of an 
eye witness we insert it in full as it covers the entire ground. 

General Curtis commenced his forward movement on the 9th 
of February, and on the 13th, took peaceable possession of Spring- 
field, the enemy having evacuated their position on the night of 

the 12th. 

"The famous race after Price commenced early in the morning 

of the 14th, and then the first live soldiering commenced. The 

weather was exceedingly cold for the season, but no allowance was 

made for this. On they pushed, making over twenty-five miles 

the first day out of Springfield. Every efiVn't was made to force 

the enemy to halt, and iight, but to no purpose. He seemed only 

intent upon escape. In his flight everything which could retard 

his progress was thrown away. Old wagons, lame horses and 

mules, were ])y far too numerous along the road for anything short 

of a race for life. 

"At Flat creek, distant about fifty miles south of Springfield, 

the battery was so fortunate as to get near enough to his rear guard 

to give him a few sliells. This was their first gun at the enemy, 

and the conduct of the battery was witnessed by Gens. Curtis, 

Sigel, arid others, who only coniplainad that our boys drove them 

off too quickly. This occurred on the the 15th. The pursuit was 

still continued, and without eliciting anything of interest beyond 

the evident intention of the enemy to escape, if possible, until our 

forces had crossed the Missouri State line, and reached Sugar 

creek, where Price, strengthened b}'^ the arrival of 3000 Texas and 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 481 

Louisiana troops, under Ben McCuUoiigli, who had been sent 
northward to meet him, as well as emboldened by a very advant- 
ageous position, made a stand. The advance of cavalry coming 
upon the enemy, and thinking that he was in small force, proba- 
bly only stragglers from liis rear guard, charged him but were 
forced to turn and fall back with considerable loss. 

"Vandever's brigade was ordered forward at "double-quick," 
and our battery was pushed up beyond the furthest point reached 
by the cavalry, wliere our boys were greeted by a terrible fire from 
a battery concealed in the front, and under this fire the third went 
into battery and replied in the direction of the enemy, and such 
was the coolness of the gunners and the deliberation with which 
they delivered their fire, that in less than thirty minutes, not only 
was their loud-mouthed opponent, against whom the principal fire 
was directed; forced to limber up, and gallop off the field, but also 
the cavalry and infantry, Avhich had deployed on the right and 
front, was taken with a sudden disgust of shot and shell, and 
betook themselves beyond reach before our own infantry were 
able to get within musket range. This lively little brush cost the 
battery two horses killed, and one caisson disabled by the enemy's 
fire. ^ 

"The affair was witnessed by Gens. Curtis and Sigel, and many 
other officers Avho were on the ground, and the battery received 
most unqualified approbation for the energetic, and skillful man- 
agement of its guns. licing too much exhausted to push on, 
they remained on the field that night, and until the second morn- 
ing, Avhen, having gained some intelligenc of the enemy's where- 
abouts, Gen. Curtis moved off to the right of the former coufse, in 
the direction of Bentonville, intending to flank the position of 
Price at Cross Hollow. 

"The movement was a complete success. Our army flanked 
the position, but the enemy were, in tlie meantime, in full retreat, 
evidently, determined to place Boston mountain between them- 
selves and harm. 

"It being impossible to move farther southward, owing to the 
exhausted state of the troo])S and horses, they went into camp at 
Cross Hollows, Avhere they remained until the rebel army, 
re-enforced by 10,000 men under Van Dorn, marching northward 
to attack them compelled Gen. Curtis to fall back to the the strong 



482 HISTORY OP HOWARD COUNTY. 

position at Sugar ci*eek, or rather to the ridge beyond, known as 
Pea Ridge. 

This General Curtis did upon the 5th and 6th, of March, fortu- 
nately without the loss which the enemy contemplated inflicting 
upon him, viz: 

"Whipping the army in detail; the army was camped at Cross 
Hollows. Carr's (4th) division, nowever, alone, were at this point, 
but Cutis' headquarters were here. Sigel's (1st) Asboth's (2d) 
and Davis' (3d) were at, and near Bentonville, the army having 
been separated on account of forage. 

"On the 4th of March, a portion of Vandever's brigade, consist- 
ing of detachments of the 9th Iowa, and 24th Mo., infantry, and 3d 
111. cavalry, wrth one section of the battery under command of 
Lieut. Wright, the whole commanded by Col. Vandever, started, 
on a reconnoissance in the direction of Huntsville, Ark., distant 
forty-five miles. This place was reached, and the object of the 
expedition having been accomplished, it Avas about to start back 
for Cross Hollows, when the arrival of a messenger from Gen. 
Curtis, showed the folly of such an attempt^ as it would only result 
in its falling into the hands of the^ enemy, Then commenced one 
of the hardest marches, that was made during the war. The 
troops were forced to march through one of the roughest countries 
in the Union, ford White river, and make forty-seven miles in 
one day. The ford over which they crossed was within seven 
miles of Cross Hollows, and while our little force was crossing 
here, the entire rebel army, under Van Dorn and Price, was at the 
former place, though, happily for our boys ignorant of their where- 
abouts. 

So well did Col. Vandever mange the march, that no one was 
allowed to escape, and thus give information to the enemy, of the 
proximity. At length, after this most exhausting march the de- 
tachment reached the camp of our forces at Pea Ridge about 9 p. 
M., greatly to the joy and surprise of almost every one, who had 
given it up for lost. The exhaustion of that march was so terrible, 
that scarcely one who escaped the destruction of the next two 
days' battle but could be found in the hospital; and many of 
them, the victims of that day's march, are now in their graves. 

"Early on the morning of the 7th, skirmishing havin ; com- 
menced on the extreme right of our line, Vandever's brigade was 
hurried to the front, and instantly became engaged. Two sections 



HISTOKY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 483 

of the battery went into action under a terrific fire of both infantry 
and artillery, which were posted in the front, about 300 yards 
distant from Elkhorn tavern. The first Iowa battery, which the 
third relieved, had already l)een terribly cut to pieces, and was 
forced to leave the field. Before the battery had been in position 
ten minutes, it had one gun disabled by thy enemy's artillery, one 
limber blown up, and several men wounded and horses killed. So 
destructive was the fire that Col. Carr, commanding the division, 
who was on the ground, ordered the two sections to fall back, 
which was immediately done. The entire battery again took up 
position to the right of Elkhorn tavern, where it remained until 
the entire division was forced to fall back in the evening. During 
the day the enemy repeatedly charged the position, but were in- 
variably driven back in confusion. In one of these charges they 
managed to "secure one of the guns of the battery, which was 
being placed in an elevated position, some distance to the left of 
the battery, but was almost entirely unsupported. The division, 
which entered the fight in the morning with less than 2,200 fight- 
ing men, held their ground for over six hours against nearlj^ five 
times their number, and not until over one-third of the entire 
division had been killed and Avounded, did the eneni}', afterwards 
known to be over 12,000 strong, succeed in forcing the gallant Carr 
to retire. 

"The suddenness of their final attack, with the meagerness of 
the support, compelled the battery to leave two of their guns upon 
the field. These guns, however, Avere not abandoned, until they 
were sjdked, and every horse had been killed, and every man 
serving with them, either killed or wounded. They fell back 
some 400 yards, where, support coming to their aid, they kept up 
fire with- the remaining guns, until darkness put an end to the 
engagement. 

"They remained on the field during the night, and participated 
in the engagement of the 8th, which terminated in the rout of the 
enemy, and his fiight from the field. 

"The entire loss of the battery in the two days was, two men 
killed, two officers and fifteen men wounded, twenty-three horses 
killed, and three guns captured. They fired, during the engage- 
ment, over 1,200 rounds of ammunition. The battery acquitted 
itself nobly in this, one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the 



484 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY . 

war, and received most complimentary notices in the official repoiia 
of Cols. Vandever and Carr, also of Brig. Gen. Asboth. Three 
days after the battle, the army was moved southward again, but 
after one day's march, took the back track, and moved northward 
to Keiths ville, where it remained until April 5th, when the army 
commenced the march to Batesville, Independence county. Ark., 
which point was reached without encountering anything of interest, 
about the 10th of May. From thence they moved south to Searcy, 
on little Red river, and afterward returned to Batesville, about 
the 20th of June. 

"From Batesville, Gen. Curtis commenced his celebrated march 
to Helena, Ark., where he arrived on the 12th of Jul}'-, having en- 
countered most terrible hardships on account of the excessive 
heat, and great scarcity of provisions. Remained at Helena until 
Gen. Steele's expedition against Little Rock was organized, in 
August, 1863. 

"During their stay at Helena, the battery was a portion of the 
force in several expeditions, most prominent among which were 
Hovey's Mississippi expedition, November 1862; Gorman's White 
River expedition, January, 1863; and the Yazoo Pass expedition, 
March, 1863. In the latter expedition thebattery took an active 
part in the bombardment of Fort Pemberton, at the junction of 
the Tallahachie and Yallabusha rivers. Returned to Helena, 
April 8, 1863; remained in camp there until August 11th. The 
battery took part in the defense of this place against the attack of 
the rebels under Price, Holmes, and others, on the 4th of July, 
1863. Fired over one thousand rounds at the enemy, but escaped 
without any loss of men, owing to the excellent protection of our 
fortifications. Had eight horses killed. 

"During the fall of 1862, the battery was the recipient of a 
splendid stand of colors, consisting of a banner and guidon — a 
present from the ladies of Milwaukee, Wis. They were made of 
the finest material, and bore upon their folds the names of the 
diff'erent engagements in which the battery had participated. The 
banner bore on one side the coat of arms of Wisconsin, and on the 
other that of Iowa. They were accompanied by the most touch- 
ing adth-ess from the donors, referring in most glorious terms to 
the conduct of the battery in every duty it had been called upon 
to perform, closing with a stirring appeal to the members of the 



HISTORY OF HOWAED COUNTY. 487 

battery to protect well the trust thus placed in their hands, and 
never to give up the struggle until these glorious colors should be 
honored throughout the length and breadth of the land. Coming 
from the ladies of a distant state, the battery was justly proud of 
these colors. 

"Forming a portion of Gen. Steele's forces in the Little Rock 
expedition, it took part in the capture of that place, without any 
loss. Also took part in the expedition of Gen. Rice against 
Arkadelphia, in October, 1863. 

"In December, 1863, and January, 1864, the battery re-enlisted 
as veterans, under authority of the War Department, and in 
February the veterans of the organization, with the officers, were 
sent north on, furlough, from which they returned in May. After 
that time the_ battery received new guns and a complete outfit, as 
well as a large number of recruits. 

"At the expiration of the original term of service of the battery, 
September 26, 1864, the non-veterans were sent north, where they, 
with Capt. M. M. Hayden, were mustered out, October 3, 1864. 

The following is a list of killed and wounded at the battle of 
Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7th and 8th, 1862: 

Killed — Privates Dudley Gilbert and Freedom Jackson. 

Wounded — Sen. 1st Lieut. Wm. H. McClure; Jr. 1st. Lieut. 
Melvil C. Wright; Corpl. David H. Rowles; Privates Adolph 
Borget, Charles N. Collins, Wm. Field, Richard J. Long, Ephraim 
Odell, Francis M. Thompson, Jacob Yost (died of wounds), Thos. 
Bunton, Theodore Connerardy, George W. Dearth, John F. Kelly^ 
Joseph R. Maddock, Calvin J. Smith. 

LIST OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE THIRD IOWA BATTERY SINCE 

ORGANIZATION. 

Mortimer M. Hayden, captain, mustered out October 3, 1864. 

Melville C. Wright, captain, promoted from first lieutenant, 
October 30, 1864. 

Wm.'H. McClure, first lieutenant, resigned September 4, 1862. 

Jerome Bradley, first lieutenant, promoted A. Q. M., May 1, 
1862. 

Otis G. Day, first lieutenant, mustered out April 30, 1863. 

Orlo H. Lyon, first lieutenant, promoted from second lieutenant, 
April 28, 1864. 



488 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

Joseph J. Dengl, first lieutenant, promoted from second lieuten- 
ant, October 30, 1864. 

Wm. M. Crozier, second lieutenant, cashiered by sentence general 
court martial. 

Daniel U. Lee, second lieutenant, resigned October 11, 1862. 

Leroy S. House, second lieutenant, resigned November 14, 1864. 

Hiland H. Weaver, second lieutenant, promoted from first ser- 
geant, October 30, 1864. 

The third Iowa battery of light artillery, after holding part in 
the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Lookout Moun- 
tain, Seige of Vicksburg, Dallas, and the famous Atlanta cam- 
paign, and marching with Sherman to the sea, was mustered out 
of the service at Davenport, July 14, 1865. 

ROSTER OF VOLUNTEERS. 

It is almost impossible to give the entire list of the sons of 
Howard county, in the service of the general government during 
the civil war, as all were not credited to the county. But by a 
careful investigation of the report of the adjutant general of the 
state, supplemented by personal inquiry, it is hoped that the list 
given is as accurate as the circumstances will admit. 

THIRD IOWA INFANTRY — CO. D. 

Charles P. Brown, Joseph S. Nefl', 

Gearge H. Culver, Henry H. Sheldon, 

R. E. Carpenter, Daniel Wise. 

CO. I. 

' George Merchant, Isiah Wood, 

John O'Donnell. 

SEVENTH IOWA INFANTRY — CO. B. 

W. E. Thayer, Joseph M. Gallahan, 

David Seeley. 

NINTH IOWA INFANTRY — CO. H. 

Jasper N. Moulton, A. J. Cook, 

Stephen Teeples, Alfred Knowlton. 

CO. I. 

Samuel Fellows, 1st lieut. Charles Kemery, 2d heut. 

C. B. Ashley, David Garver, 

John Logue, Levi Yantz, 

Myrtello Barber, Isaac Bryan, 

W. C. Bryan, S. A. Converse, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



489 



Joseph Capler, 
James M. Johnson, 
John Oren, 
J. F. Powell, 
Chas. W. Polley, 
Lauriston AveriL, 
Sherman Barnes, 
George S. Briggs, 
Joseph H. Fenton, 
Daniel C. Harding, 
Chas. D. Lockwood, 
Daniel A. McMartin, 
Harvey S. Ayres, 
Hiram Birch, 
John P. Freeborn, 
Simon Hughes, 
Robert Hurley, 
Osborn Lutes, 
William McCrea, 
Charles L. Wilder, 
J. D. O'Donnell, 
Horace B. Rome, 
D. M. Townsend, 
Joseph Yantz, 
Andrew Miller, 
W. M. Colby, 
Daniel B. Burke, 
D. P. Griffin, 



D. C. Horning, 
Martin Kile, 
Finley D. Pierce, 
William L. Ransom, 
T. J. Papin, 
Amos S. Halstead, 
Clark Johnson, 
Benj. F. Knight, 
John F. Knight, 
Thos. J. Bridges, 
Edwin Chapell, 
Ezra M. Cole, 
Francis A. Daniels, 
John Goodenough, 
Lewellyn Hurley, 
Martin B. Jones, 
John Long, 
A. Strogher, 
Lorenzo Wentworth, 
Adam Vance, 
Salisbury Sherman, 
Hiram M. Townsend, 
M. M. Wells, 
Geo. A. Owen, 
N. R. Johnston, 
Walter Scofield, 
Thos. J. Powell, 
Walter Mintay. 



V. R. Dunn, 



TWELFTH IOWA INFANTRY — CO. G. 

Fred. Radian, 
Edward Rachan. 



THIRTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY 



John R. Curry, 
Terence McGrary, 



Isaac Cottrell, 
Francis Craig. 



TWENTY-FIRST IOWA INFANTRY- 

John Becker. 



-CO. A. 



CO. I. THIRTY-EIGHT IOWA INFANTRY. 

W. H. Powell, 1st Lieut., W. H. Patterson, 2d Lieut., 

B. D. Everingham, Lewis L. Light, 



490 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



Jonas F. Adams, 
Alva J. Stearns, 
Madison Taft, 
Samuel L. Thomson, 
0. A. Bmiker, 
0. D. Curtis, 
Otis A. Adams, 
Wm. H. Buckland, 
Ard. Bryan, 
Charles E. Booth, 
Charles Craghill, 
G. W. Dawes, 
Geo. Duffy, 
John Feather, 
Isaac W. Poe, 
Chas. W. Sawyer, 
Wm. Winters, 

C. F. Mitchell, 

E. B. Sloan, 
S. Hazledine, 
M. C. Abrams, 

D. C. Ashley, 
Jos. W. Brown, 
Jason Bennett, 
Jno. P. Bossard, 
L. p. Bayes, 

F. L. Dauberschmit, 
James Forester, 

Adam Fussell, 

A. J. Garnsey, 

R. B. Henderson, 



Robt. Logue, 
Walter Mintey, 
S. Nichols, 
S. G. Oldham, 
F. H. Ransom, 
Philip Serfors, 
Benj. Strawn, 
Jas. Shaw, 
Andrew Witt, Jr.,. 
Peter Phillips, 
Jay H. Phillips, 
F. Richards. 
Ole Talif, 
Geo. W. Weller, 
L. D. Huckins, 
J. B. Kingsley, 
C. M. Pepin, 
A. S. Pepin, 
Alex. J. Powell, 
Sylvanus Pekin, 
W. P. Rinia, 
J. W. Maynard, 
E. B. Millington, 
Wm. Niles, 
H. C. Obert, 
James M. Phillips, 
Edwin Phillips, 
John B. Parrington,. 

J. F. Sheldon, 
Ezra Witt, 
Enos. Wood. 
Jas. Heldridge, 



John Holverson, 

FORTY-SIXTH IOWA INFANTRY — CO. F. 

Ed. M. Ashley, George Daggett, 

Henry Pierce, S. E. Trask. 

SIXTH IOWA CAVALRY — CO. F. 

Elijah Murry, William C. Storr, 

W. F. Lyman, E. Miner, 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



491 



Joseph Richards, 
Peter Smith. 



B. W. Sawver, 



H. M. Harlow, 



CO. K. 

John M. Sawyer. 

CO M. 

C. J. Nichols. 

THIRD IOWA BATTERY. 

Geo. L. Brown, William Radford, 

Edmund D. Howe, George H. Niles, 

George W. Combs, Truman H. Smith, 

James Q. Jones, 
Michael Kelley. 



Theod. B. Sheldon, 




\V^>" 



492 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Chronology of the County, Being an Account of the Prin- 
cipal Events, Occurring in the County, From the Earliest 
Time to the Present Moment, Arranged Chronologically. 



1851. 

During the month of December, Hiram Johnson erected his 
humble cabin, and dwelt therein, the first white man to locate 
within the bounds of what now constitutes the county of Howard. 

1853. 

This is the first year that any immigration came into Howard 
county. It is told, that during the twelve months, Henry Brown 
located in Oakdale township, Daniel Crowell and Andrew Nelson, 
in Albion, William Cottrell, Thomas Lewis, William Brown 
and H. Shuttleworth in New Oregon, and Owen Sprague, William 
Harlow and others at Vernon Springs. 

1854. 

During the year S. M. Cole, James Q. Uj^ton, George Schofield 
and others came to Vernon Springs. "Uncle" George Schofield 
building the first house, in what was afterwards the villiage of 
New Oregon. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 493 

A. D. C. Knowlton, Joseph Knowlton, Oscar Chesebro, located 
the first claims in Forest City township. 

Jarecl Sigler and others in Saratoga, making the first settle- 
ments in that township. 

This same year it is also recorded, that C. S. Thurber and others 
were the pioneers in the settlement in Albion township. 

The first settlement of Afton township, was made this year, by 
A. Pooler. Joseph Hall and others. 

A. Kingsley and others settled in the township of Chester. 

The first saw mill in the county, was erected this year, near 
Vernon Springs, on the Turkey river, by Oren Sprague. 

1854. 

Saw mill at New Oregon erected by William Harlow, in the 
early part of the year. 

The first grist mill built in the county, erected at Foreston 

First store, within the limits of the county, opened by Henry 
Milder, at Vernon Springs, and known as the "Blue Store" to all 
the settlers round about. 

First school in the county, opened during the year by Miss 
Harriet Cole, at Vernon Springs. 

The first post office, established in the county was at "Oregon 
Grove," and of which Hiram Johnson was appointed postmaster, 
but before his commission had arrived, he had removed from the 
county, and k^. M. Cole was appointed in his place. 

This year, Lucy Thurber, the first white child was born, in the 
county, and in October of this same year Jacob Harlow, the first 
boy in the county, was born. 

It is recorded that the first death to occur in Forest City town- 
ship, was during this year, and was that of John Mortimer. 

Howard township first settled by W. S. Pettibone and others. 

The first settlement in Jamestown township made by Messrs 
Van Houghton, Niles and Shaw. 

During the winter of this year Robert Gilchrist, of Albion town- 
ship was frozen to death, wliile attempting to cross the prairie. 

1855. 
The settlements during the year are Thomas Griffin and Patrick 
Richards in Paris township; R. 0. Thayer W. E. Thayer and oth- 
ers, in Howard Centre; C. D. Cutting, William and Dennis Rice, 
in Jamestown township. > 



494 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

The second grist mill erected in the county, at Vernon Springs, 
on the Turkey river. 

S. M. Cole erects and establishes the first hotel in the county, it 
being near the town of Vernon Springs; this hotel was for some 
years the principal stopping place for M. 0. Walker's stages and 
for all travelers and emigrants passing west. 

The county organized this year, in accordance with an order is- 
sued from the court of Judge Lyons, of Chickasaw county, and 
first election held, resulting in the election of James G. Upton as 
county judge, Edmund Gillett, county clerk; William Woodward, 
recorder and treasurer. 

Vernon Springs township was organized this year. 

Postoffice established at the village of Lime Si)rings, with A. D. 

C. Knowlton as postmaster; this being the first in the township 
of Forest City. 

The postoffice located at Arnoldsville was the first in Albion 
township, and A. Allen was commissioned the postmaster. It re- 
mained here, however, but a short time when it was removed to 
Osborne. 

C. M. Munson opened the first store, in the village of New Oregon, 

during the year. 

1856. 
The settlement of Jamestown township dates from this year, 
although a few settlers had pre-empted claims therein the year be- 
fore. It is recorded that a party consisting of James A. Cutting, 

D. P. Bradford, John Mofiitt and Lyman Southard, erected a 
steam saw mill, which they had brought with them, near the town 
of Riceville. Large immigration poured into this town this year, 
among whom may be found, the names of Darius and Smith W. 
Seeley. 

The first election, ever held in the town of Jamestown, was the 
presidential one of this year, which resulted in the election of 
James Buchanan, to the position of chief executive of the nation. 

April 12, Marcus De Moss born, the first birth in the precinct of 
Jamestown. 

John F. Thayer commences the erection of the hotel, at Howard 
Centre, early in the year, and at the grand celebration held in the 
grove near by, and at which M. V. Burdick and James G. Upton, 
spoke, the lower story was used as aballroom,although the second 
story was not built yet. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 495 

The record of the survey and plat, of the town of Howard 
Center, bears date of December 1, of this year. 

The first postoffice in the toM'nship of Jamestown is established 
in the spring, with D. P. Bradford, to handle the mails. 

This yeaf proving dry, and the herbage growing dry, the prairie 
fires, destroyed much propert}^ for the pioneers, and the cold 
winter coming on, the coldest they had ever known, many being 
without shelter, suffered, untold hardship. The fearful blizzard of 
December 13, will be remembered by them all, and many suffered, 
even unto d^ath, notably, among which is Mr. William Niles, who 
attempting to cross but a short strip of open country, wandered 
from the track, was lost, and perished in the darkness and the 
storm. 

Kev. John W. Windsor organizes the Congregational church at 
New Oregon. This is the parent of the church of the same de-. 
nomination npw located at Cresco. 

The first marriage in the county is celebrated this year, being 
that of Edmund Gillett to Miss Helen Barber, this was at Vernon 
Springs. 

The county seat is located at Vernon Springs, in the spring, by 
order of Judge Upton, and the books and papers of the county 
moved there and court held at that place. 

The organization of Forest City township is perfected, and the 
first election -held therein, resulting in electing C. S. Thurber, jus- 
tice of the peace, and E. Bassett, town clerk. 

The first school in the township of Forest City was opened and 
taught by Miss Helen VanLeuvan, in the fall of this year. 

Howard and Afton townships organized in one precinct during 
the year. 

Charles F. Bunker, born October 1st, being the first birth in the 
township of Howard Center. 

In the spring, in Albion township, the Baptist church was or- 
ganized, with Rev. T. H. Miner as pastor. Later in the year the 
'^lethodist of the community organized their church, and Rev. Wil- 
liam Lease was chosen their sjuritual leader. The Church of 
Christ was also organized this year, under the labors of Rev. Wil- 
liam Phillips. * 

During the fall of this year. Dr. Lewis Reynolds opened and 
taught the first school in Albion township. 



496 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

The first regular village school was opened in the town of New 
Oregon, and Daniel Mills assumed the tutorship. 

1857. 

Albion township was a part of Vernon Springs, until this year, 
when it withdrew, andjcompleted a separate organization, and held 
its first election, at which were cast some forty-eight votes, and re- 
sulted in electing JamesNichols and James Oakley, justices of the 
peace, and Josiah Kelley, town clerk. 

The townships of Chester and Oakdale organized in one, under 
the name of Iowa River, and at the first election, held in April, 
forty-nine votes were polled, John Adams and W. Y. Wells being 
elected justices of the peace, and C. M. Sawyer, town clerk. In the 
same township the first regular district school was organized, and 
taught by Miss Salinda Burknap, although it is said, that a school 
had been in operation the year before, but of which there is noth- 
ing known of a certainty. 

Postofiice, at Howard Center, established; Henry Cook being 
commissioned as the first postmaster thereof. 

The organization of Howard Center township perfected, and first 
election held March 13th, at the house of John F. Thayer, result- 
ing in the choice of Frank S. Trew, as justice of the peace; Ira 
Eldridge, Chas. H. Wood, and Calvin F. Webster, town trustees; 
T. R. Perry, town clerk; R. 0. Thayer, and O. A. Bunker, con- 
stables. 

The township school board was also organized, and the first tax 
levied in the precinct was one voted by the people for the purpose 
of raising funds to erect a school house. The election took place 
June 1st. 

It is recorded that, all this year, the Rev. John W. Windsor 
preached on alternate Sabbaths, at the town of Howard Center, 
being the first to teach the word of God in that precinct. 

February 5th, during a blinding snow storna, the flakes falling 
so thick and last that none could see the flames half a mile off", 
the hotel of John Thayer, at Howard Center, was destroyed by- 
fire. There was, at the time of the breaking out of the conflagra- 
tion, a school in session in the building taught by W. B. Stone. 
Tlie fire caugl^t from a defective flue, or a brokCTi stovepipe, and 
in a short time reduced the building to a pile of ashes. 

The host, Mr. Thuyer was in the timber at the time, getting out 
timbers for a barn, and when he saw the work of the devouring 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 497 

elements, immediately commenced operation to rebnild him a 
hotel, even before the glowing coals had lost their lirey breath, he 
began his labors, and by the fourth of July next had the building 
completed, and much larger and better than before. 

I. C. Chamberlain teaches the first school in the township of 
Paris. 

The postoffice at Sturgis' Point, in the same town, located with 
J. I. Sturgis as postmaster. 

In Jamestown township the first election for township officers 
was held, April 7th, and W. E. Thayer and D Patterson were 
chosen constables; Willis Spencer and Darius Seeley, justices of 
the peace; H. Ricker, Asel Fassett, and Smith W. Seeley, town 
trustees. 

The first school was also taught in this township, this year. Miss 
Jane Chandler being the teacher. The building was built of logs 
at "Round Grove," and for some years answered the purpose, when 
it grew to limited, as to space, and was replaced with a larger one 
of frame. 

The first term of the district court, held in the county, was at 
Vernon Springs, Samuel Murdock being the judge. It was at 
this term that the first naturalization papers ever issued in the 
county, were taken out by Joseph S. Schafer, an alien, who desired 
to become a citizen of the United States. 

During the fall the county seat was removed from Vernon 
Springs to thf' town of Howard Center. 

First movement of the people of the county toward a railroad 
was initiated this year; a vote of the people offering the North- 
western railroad $150,000 to build a road into the county. This 
proved of no avail, as that railway never accepted the bonus nor 
built any track in that direction. 

The Baptist church, at Vernon Springs, organized, with Rev. C. 
E. Brown as pastor. The first school, in the same township, 
opened and taught this year by Aaron Kimball. 

1858. 

Howard County Sentinel, the first paper published in the 
county, established February 18th, by a stock company, with J, 
Howard Field as editor. This paper was ijuite a su«cess, u til it 
was burned out in the following year, and never re-established. 

The Star of the west, another journal, was established, at New 



498 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

Oregon, by Gilmore & McKay, but it had a life of but eleven 
weeks, ere it died. 

George W. Haislet starts the Northern Tight, a weekly paper at 
Howard Center; it lasted but one year, when it was removed to 
more congenial climes. 

This seems to be a good year for newspapers, for we learn that 
the North Iowa Gazette, a democratic organ, under the editorship 
of Messrs. Harrison & Peck, issues its initial number. The dura- 
tion of its life was only about a year, as it expired from want of 
patronage, there not being many democrats in the county. 

During the summer the organization of Saratoga township, and 
the consequent election, is recorded. T. J. Gibbons being chosen 
justice of the peace, and John R. Buckbee, town clerk; fourteen 
votes were polled. 

County seat moved from Howard Center and located on the 
bluff, between New Oregon and Vernon Springs villages, by the 
-commission, consisting of M. V. Burdick, G. N. Holbrook, and 
George Bronson. These gentlemen were appointed by Judge 
Upton for the purpose, in answer to the wishes of the i:)eople of 
the county, and, finding that it could not be granted to either of 
the above mentioned towns, compromised the matter by giving 
it to neither, but placed it half way between them. The court 
house was commenced at that point this year, but was not finished 
and occupied until the next spring, and was paid for by the 
private subscription of both villages. 

Methodist church, at Vernon Springs, organized, with Rev. Fall 

as pastor. 

The Congregational church, at Saratoga, organized, and the first 

school, in that place, opened b}"^ Miss Emma Seeley. 

At the organization of Paris township, this year, the vote polled 
was but twenty-three, and P. Smith was elected justice of the 
peace, and P. Griiiin, town clerk. 

Afton township was also organized this year, polling forty -eight 
votes, and electing A. M. Cowan and R. Wooten, justice^ of the 
peace. • 

The organization of the Methodist church, in Afton township, 
dates from tliis year. 

The town of Chester laid out, in March, by A. Eaton, and the 
first postofiice established, and Mr. Eaton installed as the post- 
tnaster. 



• 



HISTORY OF HOWARp COUNTY. 499 

Methodist church, at Chester, organized, in March, by Rev. Mr. 
Norton, with seven members. 

The first marriage in Albion township takes place, being that of 
Ralph Watson to Miss Martha Cassety, the ceremony being per- 
formed by Elder Griffin, a Baptist minister. 

This year the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches, at New 
Oregon, were organized. The former under the pastorate of Rev. 
Mr. Waterbury. 

It was during this year that the "gold fever" broke out in the 
northern part of the county, sonie deluded creatures conceiving 
that the auriferous metal could be found in paying quantities on 
the banks of the Upper Iowa river. The mania had its run, but 
that was to short, and the craze being over, the men settled down 
to work, and were once more reasonable beings. 

1859. 

The court house, on the blufif, near Vernon Springs and New 
Oregon, finished and occupied as such, in February. 

The New Oregon Plaindealer established, uy H. Lick and W. R. 
Mead; this has proved one of the few successful papers. With- 
standing the storms and adversities of early journalism, it;, has 
rode triumphant into harbor. Continuing in New Oregon, until 
May, 18G7, it was then transferred to Cresco, Avhere it yet remains 
under the charge of W. R. and F. J. Mead. 

The first Baptist church within the precinct of Forest City, was 
organized this spring, with Rev. C. E. Brown, as pastor and 
spiritual guide. The Methodist churches, at Foreston and Lime 
Springs, and the Presbyterian churches in both the above places, 
were also instituted during the year. 

1860. 

The large stone grist mill, at Lime Springs, was completed this 
year, although partly built the year previous. M. M. Marsh was 
the sole owner and builder, and at the time of its construction 
the finest in this section. 

The first delinquent tax sale, in the county, was held, this year, 
and was but slimly attended. 

186L 

The mode of county government being clianged this year from 
the hands of the county judge to that of supervisors, one from 
each township; tlie board met January 7th lor the first time. 



500 HISTORY ofThoward county. 

The southern slave states having now risen in arms against the 
government, the board of supervisors, on June 4th, }>ass a resolu- 
tion to sustain the honor of Howard county, by pledging the 
resources of the county to the federal government, both in men 
and money. In September they pass an ordinance, by which they 
agree to pay every man, enlisiing from the county, ten dollars as an 
outfit, and also to pay monthly, to the wives of such, the sum of 
four dollars, and one dollar to each child under twelve years 
of age. 

Company I, ninth Iowa infantry, raised in the county, and 
mustered into the service of the United States, September ISth. 
This company did good service in the fiery battle front, returning 
at the cloje of the war with much thinned ranks, and leaving 
many a loved comrade in the cold embrace of death, tar away in 
southern swamps. 

1862. 

The summer breezes blowing down from Minnesota bring the 
fearful tidings of Indian massacre and butchery. Thousands flee- 
ing for their lives, leaving their property to be destroyed by the 
red fiends, came for shelter to Howard county, creating quite a 
scare. The county government asked the state for arms, but 
before the "circumlocation office" had got round to it, the need 
had passed away, and all was quiet once more. 

Company I, thirty-eighth Iowa infantry, raised in the county, 
and marched to join the boys in the front. This company was 
mustered in at Dubuque, November 4th, and served its full time, 
until the close of the war. 

1868. 

The board of supervisors, of the county, submit to the ratifica- 
tion of the legal electors of the county, the question of donating 
all the swamp lands of the county to aid in the construction and 
equipment of the McGregor Western railroad, on the condition 
that they would build a railroad from North McGregor westward 
to intersect the county from east to west. At an election held' 
October 19th, the people, by a large majority, proclaim themselves 
in favor of such donation. 

The cemetery in Howard township laid out, also the first person 
interred therein being Mrs. Harriet N. Talmage, who had drowned 
herself, while suffering under a temporary aberration of mind. 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 501 

The board of supervisors of the county, finding that it was still 
necessary to find a few more men to fill the quota of Howard 
county, in the federal army, offer the Kum of three hundred 
dollars to all who will enlist, and be accepted, between December 
7th and January 5th next, and their wives and children to receive 
the same monthly ])ayments as had been paid to the others. 

1865. 

The board of supervisors, wanting to change the location ol the 
county seat, declare that the present court house is unfit for the 
purpose, the weather having rotted it down, until it was unsafe for 
the records, and ordered the officers to remove the said records 
and i)apers to Vernon Springs. The board met at the latter place, 
but the records, etc., were not moved owing to the objections raised 
against it. 

The time in which the McGregor Western railway was to get 
their track and roadbed into the county, having expired before 
they were enabled to do so, they asked the people to extend the 
time on the contract, which, at an election held in October, was 
accordingly done. 

During the year the first effort was made to purchase a poor 
farm, and erect a poor house, but it fell through for want of, the 
proj^er support. 

1866. 

In the spring of this year the McGregor Western railroad crossed 
the boundary of the county, and first broke ground for their track 
within its limits. J^ntering in section twenty-three, in Vernon 
Springs, the road passes northwest and leaves the county on 
section ten, Oakdale township, traversing the northeast corner, and 
skirting the north line of the county. The people and officers of 
the county justly complained at the action of the railroad com- 
pany, in not comi)lying with the terms of the contract entered 
into by them with the county, which recites that the road was to 
cross the entire length of the county, from east to west. This was 
the source of much trouble and litigation in the future. 

The town of Cresco was laid out and platted, and the said plat 
placed on record, June 12th, of this year. There have been several 
additions made to this plat since, and now covers nearly four 
times as much territory as at first laid out. 

The first settlement of the town also dates from this year. 



502 HISTORY OF HOWARD CO UNTIf, 

The London Times, in an issue early in the ensuing year, quotes 
the town of Cresco as an example of the wonderful growth of the 
American western towns, and says "that in six months a bald 
prairie is covered with stores, shops, and dwellings of a thou- 
sand inhabitants, and resounds to the hum of rushing business." 

The first school, in Cresco, also dates from this year, and was 
taught in the house, afterwards used jis a private residence by Mrs. 
Bateman. 

1867. 

In the course of this year, the board of supervisors of the county 
are presented with a petition, signed by Augustus Beadle and 
others, praying that the seat of the county government be re- 
located at Cresco, and offering, if that was done, to erect a suitable 
building to be used as a court house, and for the use of the county, 
donate it free of any charge whatever. A committee of the whole 
being appointed to view the proposed site of the building, was 
reported upon favorably, and the board accepted the offer, and 
ordeied the county officers to remove the records, files, papers, 
and offices to the new court house, when it was finished. The 
Howard county court house association immedialely commenced 
the erection of the structure, which was finished in June, and the 
removal made. Owing to the opposition of many in the county, 
the county seat was not formally relocated, but by a legal fiction 
was still supposed to remain at "the bluff," but for the conveni- 
ence the court house, at Cresco, was recognized as the real county 
seat. 

January 20th the Howard County Times was born. The pro- 
prietors, Messrs. Wood & Mix, establishing the same under the 
most favorable circumstances. This paper passed through many 
hands since, but has never lost its prestige, as one of the brightest 
and best of northern Iowa's papers. 

1868. 

The board of supervisors submit to the action of the qualified 
electors, the question of levying a special tax, to furnish the 
necessary funds to purchase a poor farm, and erect suitable build- 
ings, but on account of the hard times, owing to the depreciation 
in values, consequent on the close of the war, the people of the 
county saw fit to deny the tax, and for the time being the matter 
was dropped. 



HISTORY Oi> HOWARD COUNTY, 503 

The matter of the McGregor raih-oad again crops out, in a 
petition to the legislature of the state, praying that body not to 
legalize the action of a former board of supervisors, donating all 
the SAvamp lands of the county, to the road, on the plea, that the 
said company had not complied with the terms of its contract., 
This matter was afterwards carried into the courts, and consider- 
able litigation carried on, but in the end the matter was com- 
promised, and the railroad allowed to hold possession of the 
lands in dispute, on the condition that the company put a depot 
at the town of Chester. '^ 

On the night of March 15th, the office of the county treasurer 

was burglariously entered, the safe broken open and the contents, 
amounting to $13,000, abstracted. There has been no clue to the 
thief or thieves, nor never will be, in all probability, but suspicion 
was, and is, rife. This loss was a serious loss to the county, al- 
ready burdened with debt, and helped to retard the settlement of 
the county. 

The railroad locate their depot within three-fourths of a mile of 
Lime Springs and the new town, Lime Springs station, sprung into 
being. This town, like its neighbor, Cresco, grew with a surpris- 
ing growth and before winter had cast its snowy mantle over the 
ground, quite a town stood on what was a before a fertile farm- 
Among the first merchants in the place, we find the names of Peter 
Velie, Jr., S. L. Gary, J. F. Cameron, W. F. Daniels, J. E. Foster^ 
C. C. Hewitt, Joeseph Knowlton, H. P. Marsh, M. M. and A. E. 
Marsh, Ohlquist Bros., and Alonzo Pettit. 

The postoffice at Lime Springs station was established this year, 
with James Greenleaf as postmaster; he however, did not occupy 
the position, but about a month when on his resigning it, Alonzo 
Pettit was appointed, and still holds that office. 

The town of Cresco is incorporated, and an election held for city 
officers, April 20th, resulting in the choice of Isaac Gregory, for 
mayor; .W. R. Mead, recorder; Henry Widner, attorney; B. 
Chapin, treasurer and L. T. Woodcock, J. Clemmer, John C. Clark 
and John E. Peck, as council. 

1869. 

The station at Chester, located this year, and the business of the 
town receives a new impetus. 



504 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTV, 

The independent school district of Cresco, organized, this year 
and the main part of the school building, at that place erected. 

The Methodist church, in Jamestown township, was organized 
during the course of this year, by Elder Mapes, with some fifteen 
members. 

1870. 

The indebtedness of the county in its present state of floating 
warrants proving an incubus upon the finances of the treasury, the 
board resolved to bond it and create a sinking fund for the re- 
demption thereof. This was accordingly done, and bonds issued 
in sums of $100, and the whole debt placed in shape. It is owing 
to this and the able management of the funds since, that the 
county enjoys its present good financial condition. 

By the law of the state board, the of supervisors is reduced, 
this year, to the number of three. 

The bridge at Lime Springs, then in the process of construction, 
falls in ruins. 

Presbyterian and Baptist churches in Lime Springs station, built 
during the year. 

James Hendricks builds and opens the hotel in that part of the 
town of Riceville, which lies in Howard county, 

1873. 

October 21st, the Cresco Times, passed into the hands of L. E. 
Smith, who is at present the sole proprietor and owner. 

The People's Representative, a weekly newspaper, starts on the 
stormy sea of journalism. This paper seems to have succumbed 
to the tide of adverse fates, as it no longer exists. 

At the election, held in October, this year, "Jerry" Barker, re- 
ceived 656 votes, and W. W. White, 651, for auditor. The latter 
being the incumbent of that office, contested the election, claim- 
ing illegal votes on the part of the o])position. The matter 
continued for some time and the conflict waxed warm. The board 
of supervisors took the matter in hand and decided to appoint Mr. 
Barker to the office, claiming the right to do so; to this Mr. White 
objected, sajdng that the board had no right to remove him, and 
that the law api3roved of his right to hold the office, until his suc- 
cessor was elected. He was shortly reminded of the fact, that 
as he had been appointed by the board, to fill a vacancy, and not 
elected the same power could rescind the appointment. This 



HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 505 

view of the matter caused Mr. White to surrender, and Mr. 
Barker entered upon the duties of the office, early in the ensuing 
year. 

1874. 

The school building, at Cresco, proving not large enough, the 
west wing, of that structure, was built this year, adding consider- 
able more room. 

The Rlethodist church of Ricevilie, was erected and dedi- 
cated in the early part of the year. This is one the neatest speci- 
mens of gothic architecture in the county. 

1875. 
The wrought iron bridge at Florenceville is constructed during 
the year. 

1876. 
The first normal institute, in the county, is held during the 
spring of this year. J. C. Gilchrist, of St. Paul was the director 
and was assisted by J. Breckenridge, of Decorah, and Miss Bucklin, 
ofCresco. 

iri May, of this year the town of Lime Springs Station is incor- 
porated. 

December 31st, the court house, at Cresco, is destroyed by fire 
and all the court records and valuable papers reduced to ashes. 
The fire is thought to have been of incendiary origin, but of this 
there yet lacks' proof. About midnight the alarm was given and 
all hastened to the burning building, but to late to be of^ any good, 
as the flames had gained such a headway as to defy their feeble 
efibrts. A strong effort was made to save the papers in the court 
room, but the heat and the dense volumes of smoke drove back, 
all such as volunteered for the forlorn hope. In a few short hours 
the building was reduced to a pile of glowing ashes, and smoking 
heaps of rubbish. 

1877. 

This year will ever remain notorious, from the defalcation and 
absconding of the treasurer, Frank Kyte. It seems, that Monday, 
July 12th, the news was received in Cresco, that Mr. Kyte was 
drowned at McGregor, the afternoon before. On receipt of intlli- 
gence, several of the most prominent citizens, left for the point in 
question to verify the report, and if true, to recover the body. On 
their arrival at that city the}'^ found that, althoug strenuous efibrts 



506 HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY. 

had been, and were being made that no sigus of the corpse were 
visible. After developments opened the eyes of all, and the con- 
viction was forced upon them, that instead of being drowned, 
Frank Kyte, had decamped with $18,500 of the county's money, 
and that the story of his drowning was a plot, to cover up his 
tracks. 

The corporation of Cresco, extends its limits southward so as to 
take in the bluff, whereon rested the legal county seat, and so ab- 
sorbing, as it were, that honor. This settled the county seat ques- 
tion, it is hoped definitely. 

1878. 

The people of the county, SBeing that a rigid adherence to the 
letter of law, and a strict government of the bond of Frank Kyte, 
the defaulting treasurer, would work the financial ruin of many 
persons who had signed it, petition the board of supervisors to 
compromise the matter with them. This was accordingly done, 
and the matter rested. 

1880. 

The new court house, at Cresco, rebuilt and re-occupied by the 
county officers. 

The first class to graduate, from the Cresco high school, held its 
commencement exercises this year. 

1881. 

The debt, of the independent school district of Cresco, is bonded 
by resolution of the board of school control. 

1882. 

Jail and sheriffs residence erected, in court house square, by 
the county. 




CHICKCSAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 507 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES 



NEW HAMPTON. 



Sam. J. Kenyon, attorney at law, was born in Oneida county, 
New York; in 1847. In '56 he went to Wisconsin with his pa- 
rents, and settled in Walworth county; came to New Hampton in 
'69 and engaged in the practice of law, Is a graduate of Milton 
college. Rock county, Wisconsin, his legal studies being subse- 
quently pursued under the preceptorship of Governor Wyman 
and Robert Harkneso. He is a son of Thomas and Nancy Ken- 
yon, who were natives of England. Married Lilly H'-adley, a na- 
tive of Wisconsin. They have four sons. Mr. Kenyon was 
mayor of New Hampton two years, is a prominent lawyer and an 
influential citizen. 

H. Klatt & Bros., meat market, New Hampton; business estab- 
lished in '81. The Messrs. Klatt Bros, are sons of August Klatt,of 
Prussia. H. Klatt, senior member of the firm was born in Ger- 
many in '55, and is married to Dorotha Mandel, a native of Cook 
county, Illinois. They have one son. Albert Klott, junior mem- 
ber of the firm, was born in Germany in '57. came to America in 
71 and located in Chicago, Illinois, where he remained until '81. 
The above firm does an extensive and constantly increasing busi- 
ness. 



508 CHICKASAW.COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES 



\^ 



Hon. J. H. Powers, ex-state senator, and a prominent attorney 
of New Hampton, was born at Rochester, Windsor county, Vt., in 
1830. His parents were Alonson 0,nd Sarepta Martin Powers, both 
natives of Vermont. In 1836, he moved with his parents to Free- 
dom, Portage county, Ohio, where he resided until 1857. He re- 
ceived an academic education, at Kingsville, Ashtabula county, 
Ohio, and studied law one year with Judge Taylor, of Milan, teach- 
ing in the Berlin academy atjthe same time. He next studied law 
with Walker & Gunekel, a well-known law firm of Dayton, Ohio, 
ond subsequently spent one year in Texas. Mr. Powers had, in 
addition to his mental labors, served an apprenticeship of five 
years at the mason's trade, ufitil he was twenty years of age, and 
worked six months at bricklaying upon Hiram college, Ohio, the 
college made famous by the now historical fact that the late Presi- 
dent Garfield was at one time its president. In Texas, Mr. Pow- 
ers built the court house and jail (and two brick business build- 
ings) in the town of Bastrop, and also one dwelling northeast of 
Austin, beyond the capitol. Returning to Ohio, he attended the 
law school at Cincinnati, and after graduating, came to Iowa, lo- 
cating at Waukon, Allamakee county, in 1855; where, being with- 
out money, he set the boiler and built the chimney for a steam 
saw mill. On the death of his father, he returned to Ohio, and 
after settling up the affairs of the estate, once more located in 
Iowa, selecting the embryo town of Forest City, in Richland town- 
ship, Chickasaw county, as his future home. Here he also set the 
boiler, and did the necessary brick work, in the erection of a mill, 
and was for a time deputy clerk of the county court. Mr. Pow- 
ers settled at New Hampton in 1857, and has been in continued 
practice of the law at that place ever since, except during the time 
of his legislative service, and his service in the army. In 1858 he 
was elected a road supervisor, and in 1859, was called by the voice 
of the people to represent his senatorial district in the state legis- 
lature, in which latter capacity he served during the first session, 
and the extra — known as the war — session, resigning his office to 
enter the volunteer service as a private in company B, seventh 
Iowa infantry. He was subsequently promoted to the captaincy 
of company I, ninth Iowa infantry, and served until disabled, in 
1863. In 1864 he was appointed draft commissioner, and drafted 
fifteen companies, filling the quota assigned. He was also exam- 

\ 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 509 

ined in Washington, passed, and received a commission in the in- 
valid corps, but never took the oath of olfice. Capt. Powers has 
been prominently identified with the republican party of this sec- 
tion for many years; has attended nineteen state conventions as a 
delegate — and once in the "lobby" — and was a delegate to the na- 
tional republican convention at Chicago, which nominated Gar- 
field for the presidency in 1880. He was one of the principals in 
the organization of the Bank of New Hampton, which subsequent- 
ly consolidated with the Chickasaw county bank, thus forming 
the First National bank of New Hampton. August 31, 1859, he 
was married to Miss Eugenia F. Stebbins, daughter of Capt. Aaron 
Stebbins, of Long Meadow, Massachusetts, and they have three 
children living — Isabella Eugenia, Edwin Hosmer and Julius H.; 
two — Clarence P^ugene and Alonson Aaron — being deceased. He 
has been an active member of the Congregational church of New 
Hampton ever since the organization of the society. Capt. Pow- 
ers takes especial pride in the fact that his material success has 
been achieved through a series of persistent efforts, and loves to 
refer to the days when with his own hands he built houses and 
followed the mason's trade, laying brick on the first brick house in 
Chickasaw county; diging, besides, the early wells, plastering 
houses and building chimneys here in New Hampton. As noted 
elsewhere, he was also the contractor who erected the first court 
house in Chickasaw county. The captain's life has, indeed, been a 
busy one, and many are the stories of pioneer hardship he could 
relate — of tramping miles to obtain work, and in carrying on his 
senatorial canvass; of his first visit to New Hampton, on foot, and 
with only twenty-five cents in his pocket; while it is undoubtedly 
true that no man in the county possesses so complete a fund of 
valuable historical information, and early reminiscences of the 
count}" of Chickasaw. In the latter direction he has for years 
taken especial pains, in the gathering of facts and the collection of 
relics, and should he ever issue from the press a work of his own, 

it will be certain to contain much interesting matter that must else 
remain forever unwritten. At the most useful point of a long and 
successful career, Mr. P. can scarcely look back upon the varied 
incidents of the past, and no doubt realize the true strength of the 
contentment which comes from the persistent overthrow of even 
the most formidable obstacles. 



510 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

M. T. Stocks, marble cutter, was born in Stephenson county, Ill- 
inois, in 1854, removed with his parents to Iowa in '55, and settled 
in Washington townsliip this county. Came to this place August 
1st, '82, and engaged in business as above. 

S. R. Shear, photographer,' was born in Chemung county, New 
York, in '32, and is a son of R. L. and Mary A. Shear, the former a 
native of Canada, the latter of New York. In '45 he came to Lake 
county, Indiana, where he lived eleven years. In '56 he moved to 
Winnesheik county, Iowa, remaing there until '69, when he came 
to New Hampton, and engaged in business as above. Married 
Jane E. Miller, a native of Wisconsin, and they have five children, 
Edgar M., Allen, Millie A., Ida M. and Ethel P. 

Osmon Dana, liveryman, was born in Franklin county, N. Y., 
in 1831, came west in '50, and settled in Lake county, Illinois, and 
lived there until '58, when he moved Bremer county, Iowa, and 
engaged in farming. In '78 he came to New Hampton, having 
purshased the Central house, which he conducted until April, '82, 
when he bacame a member of the firm of Dana & Bayne, Mar- 
ried Mary Ann Sutherland, a native of New Nork, and they have 
one son and five daughters. 

W. D. Stafford, hardware merchant, was born in Geauga county, 
Ohio, in 1833, whence he removed at the age of fifteen, with his 
parents, to West Union, Iowa. In '67 he came to Fredericksburg, 
this county, and engaged in the hardware business, moving to 
New Hampton in '70. His parents were David and Lucindia 
Stafford, natives of New York. Married Harriet E. Utter, a native 
of IJinois, and they have one son, Linn G. Mr. S. has been a 
member of the board of supervisors three years, and is a member 
of the M. E. church. 

John Foley, of the firm of Foley & Heming, luniuer dealers. — 
Fortunately for the development of our country, it is not infre- 
quently the case that the successful and representative citizen has 
obtained the recognition which it is the laudable ambition of all to 
secure, only through a series of contests with repressive circum- 
stances; that the early life of the average successful man has been 
a battle against adverse wirids, a struggle against conflicting tides. 
It is at once the advantage and the pride of the majority of our 
public men, that they have had, at one time or another, to wrestle 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. . 511 

with the "bread and butter" problem, and have splendidly earned 
their position and their leisure. The subject of this sketch fur- 
nishes an apt instance of- the ultimate advantages of self-help. 
Coming to Chickasaw county when but sixteen years of age, he 
has by intense application, sound judgment and entire trustwor- 
thyness, won his way to a handsome competency, an enviable po- 
sition, and a popularity as deserved as it is exceptional. Mr. F. 
was born in the county of Galway, Ireland, August 14, 1841. His 
parents were Thomas and Catherine Foley, who immigrated to 
America in 1847, settling first in Nova Scotia, whence, after an 
eight months' residence, they went to Massachusetts, in which 
state they lived about two years, going thence to Baltimore, Md. 
His father died in Baltimore, in 1852, a sister also having previ- 
ously died in Lowell, Mass. Of four children, John is the only 
one living. In June, 1857, he came with his mother to Dubuque, 
this state. Having fears for his health, which was at that time 
anything but robust, after a month's residence in Dubuque, John 
came to Chickasaw county, where his mother soon joined him. He 
settled on a farm in section 20, town 97, range 12, in Jacksonville 
township. Here he immediately began to utilize -the native in- 
dustry and sturdy common sense that have since characterized 
him as one of the county's most progressive citizens, working hard 
upon the farm, and employing his leisure moments in educating 
himself for the more ambitious work before him. He soon began 
to teach school during the winters, continuing his unremittent ef- 
forts at self improvement meanwhile. So commendable a course 
could but bring .the most desirable results, and while his worldly 
substance increased, his personal popularity kept pace; so much 
so, that in 1871 he was elected by a very flattering majority to the 
responsible position of county treasurer. Immediately on enter- 
ing upon tlie discharge of the official duties he moved his family 
to New Hampton, and has ever since been a prominent resident of 
this thriving count.y seat. To the office of county treasurer he 
was re-elected three successive terms, holding the office four terms 

or eight years in all, and so satisfactory was his performance of 
his duties as to elicit the merited approval of the citizens irrespec- 
tive of party lines. We might select many printed testimonials 
as to his fitness for public responsibility, but the following from 
the New Hampton Courier of October 4th, 1873, will suffice: 



612 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

"Attentive to the duties of this office, cordial in his intercourse 
with the taxpayers and correct in his business, he has made scores 
of friends and not a single enemy. It is infinitely to his credit 
that without fear, without favor and without prejudice, he has 
sought to perform the duties of the place rather than to build up 
a clique who should conspire to keep him in office. A man of 
the people, he has faithfully performed the people's work, with an 
eye single to their interest. He found the finances of the county 
embarrassed, its credit depressed, and distrust of its financial con- 
dition and management universal. When he took possession of 
the treasurer's office county warrants had not been redeemed over 
the counter for years, but had been hawked about the streets and 
peddled from hand to hand, until they finally found their way 
into the hands of the money brokers, at a discount to the people 
of from ten to thirty per cent. His advent to the treasurer's of- 
fice changed all this in a single day. Public confidence rose as by- 
magic. The ability of the county to meet its obligations prompt- 
ly, was no longer doubted. County warrants commanded their 
face in greenbacks on the street and in the treasurer's office. They 
have continued to do so up to this hour. The people of Chicka- 
saw county owe Mr. Foley a debt of gratitude. He has done 
their work ably, faithfully and for the compensation fixed by 
law. In his official capacity he has known no friends and no 
enemies. He has favored no organized rings, and sought to buijd 
up no special interests; but with rigid impartiality has dealt hon- 
orably with all. More than this, at the thne of his election, he 
was perhaps the only man in the county upon whom all the ele- 
ments in opposition to treasury misrule could have been concen- 
trated, He accepted the office of treasurer at a positive sacrifice 
of his private business interests." 

Prior to holding the office of treasurer, Mr. Foley had been a 
member of the board of supervisors one term, and was for nine 
years connected with the school board of his town. He is an ar- 
dent friend of education, and labors assiduously for its advance- 
ment. In 1881 he was for a time heavily engaged in railroad con- 
tracting on the Marion extention of the C. M. & St. P. railroad, 
and in the spring of 1882 entered the lumber business with Mr. H. 
H. Heming, forming the present firm of Foley & Hemming, than 
which there is no more enterprising and reliable firm in the coun- 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 513 

ty. In politics Mr. Foley is a life-long democrat, which fact, when 
we consider that Chickasaw is a strong republican county, gives 
added significence to his popularity. In the fall of 1881, without 
solicitation or even consultation on his part, he was nominated by 
his party for state senator, to represent the districts composed of 
the counties of Bremer, Howard and Chickasaw, but the urgent 
demands of his private business affairs compelled him to withdraw 
from the canvass. He was a delegate to the democratic national 
convention at Cincinnati, which nominated Hancock in 1880, re- 
ceiving the very flattering endorsement of the convention to se- 
lect delegates at Burlington, where there were many contestants 
for the honor. At this writing (October, 1882), Mr. Foley is the 
candidate of his party in the state, for the highly important office 
of state treasurer, having been nominated without effort on his 
part, at the late state convention at Marshalltown. Mr. Foley's 
mother died iu the spring of 1877. He was married in 1866 to 
Miss Mary Conley, of this county. His costly residence in New 
Hampton is a model of convenience and elegance,the surroundings 
betraying tnc refinement of taste which necessarily accompanies 
well directed physical energy and intellectual activity. Mr. F. 
was reared in the Catholic faith, and steadfastly adheres to the re- 
ligion of his ancestors. 

C. E. Phelps, station agent was born in Darien. Genesee county, 
New York, in 1839, and in '45 moved to Madison, Wisconsin, 
where he remained until '4U, when he removed to Omro, Wiscon- 
sin, at which place he was for more than three years in the em- 
ploy of the railroad company. Mr. P. came to New Hampton in 
'71, and became the station agent of the C. M. & St. P R. R. com- 
pany at this place, which position he has ever since continued to 
acceptably fill. He is a son of Elijah and Hannah Knowles 
Phelps, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Rhode 
Island. The subject of this sketch was married in '60 to Louisa 

A. Bigalow, of New York, and has three children, Ada L., Clyde 

B. and Arthur C. In '60 he enlisted in company A, third Wis- 
consin cavalry, and received his discharge in July, 1863' During 
the greater part of his term of service he was a clerk at department 
headquarters. 

Dr. J. T. P^erguson, dentist, was born in Jeff*erson county, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1844. His parents were John C. and Anna Alcorn 



514 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Ferguson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of 
Ireland. The family moved to Washington county, Iowa, in '57 
and to Dayton township, this county, in 70. The subject of this 
sketch farmed and taught school at intervals, pursuing the study 
and practice of dentistry meanwhile under Dr. J. P. Campbell, of 
this place, and he opened his dental rooms here in 77. Married 
Miss A. M. Moore, of Washington county, Iowa, in '69, and has six 
children, Estella M., Ira P., Amos K., Lorenzo G., Clarence E. and 
Josiah A. 

Gideon Gardner, or Deacon Gardner, of New Hampton, as he is 
more familiarly known, was born in Plainfield, Hampshire county 
Massachusetts, February 23, 1807, his parents being Benjamin and 
Molly Tirrill Gardner. His father, the youngest of seven brothers, 
was a soldier in the revolutionary war. The head of the Gardner 
family came over in the Mayflower, and Governor Gardner, of 
Massachusetts, was one of his descendants. William Gardner, an 
uncle of Gideon, was aid-de-camp to General Washington. Benja- 
min Gardner was a farmer, his son following the same avocation, 
remaining in Massachusetts until 1831, working awhile at the ma- 
son's trade, in Pittsfield. In the above mentioned year he came 
west as far as Ohio, halting in the town of Chester, Geauga county, 
where he worked at his trade and taught music. Three years later 
he went to Medina county, working at his trade in the summer, 
and teaching music in the winter, as well as carrying on a farm, 
buying wool and dealing in stock during a portion of the time. 
He was for three years engaged in merchandising in Chatham, 
Medina county, and in 1854 immigrated to Grinnell, Iowa. There 
he aided in laying out the town, founding the college, organizing 
the Congregational church, at which time he was chosen deacon. 
He remained at Grinnell two years, farming and iii the business 
management of a store, and in 1856 he was' sent, with Mr. Homer 
Hamlin, by a company, in search of land on which to locate a 
colony. They inspected land adjoining the county lines of How- 
ard and Chickasaw counties, but prices being unsuitable, they 
started to return to Grinnell. On their way back they were very 
favorable impressed with the beauty, soil and natural advantages 
of the country in and about where New Hampton now stands, and 
accordingly' purchased eighty acres of land on the present town 
site of New Hampton, and obtained the refusal of thirty acres 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 515 

more. They then returned to Grinnell, and while there they in 
duced Mr. H. Gurley to return with them, offering him as an in- 
ducement the right to purchase the thirty acres for which they had 
the refusal. This proposition Mr. Gurley accepted, purchased the 
thirty acres, and is still a resident of New Hampton. Mr. Ham- 
lin, who was suffering from ill-health, from the consequences of 
which he subsequently died, returned to Grinnell in 1858, and in 
1867 Mr. Gardner purchased Mr. Hamlin's interest in the eighty 
acres above mentioned. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Gardner 
was the original proprietoi; of most of the land upon which stands 
this flourishing; little city; he surveyed and platted the townsite, 
there being less than a half-dozen families here at the time. In 
July, 1861, Mr. Gardner entered the seventh Iowa infantrv as cap- 
tain of company B, and was discharged in September, 1862, on ac- 
count of age and physical disability — serving as major when he 
left the regiment. While in Medina county, Ohio, he was county 
assessor two years, and during his early residence at New Hamp- 
ton, was justice of tlie peace for, some time; was chairman of the 
county board of supervisors for a number of years, and was mayor 
of the city one term. Mr. Gardner was originally a whig, then a 
free soiler, and latterly has been a republican. He has been a 
member of the church for half a century, helped to organize the 
New Hampton Congregational church, and was its first deacon. 
His Christian character is unimpeachable; his life has been a 
model of the purest religious type, and has been a power in the 
advancement of the community's highest interests. In 1827 he 
was united in marriage to Naomi Parker, who died in Decem- 
ber, 1879. She was a very estimable lady, who exemplified the 
highest Christian graces in her every -day life, and whose death 
was the occasion for sincere sympathy and grief on the part of all 
who knew her. Of three children but one is living, Weston D. 
Deacon Gardner has entered upon his seventy-sixth year; he is six 
feet and two inches tall and with his erect form and patriarchal 
beard, is an exceptionally fine illustration of "how to grow old 
gracefully." He has married grandchildien, who venerate his 
name, as do the citizens of the entire community in which he re- 
sides. 

H. H. Potter, attorney at law, wrs born in St. Clair county, 
Michigan, in 1842. His early life was spent in Michigan, where 



616 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

he received an academic education. Mr. P. came to Chickasaw 
county in 1865, and settled in Bradford township. Soon after- 
wards he was elected county surveyor, which position he held 
four years. He read law with A. G. Case, now of Charles City, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1870, and immediately began 
practicing in New Hampton. Mr. Potter was married to Florence 
Somerville, of Davenport, Iowa, in 1872, and they have one child, 
Arvin. Mr. P. is a member of the Congregational church, and is a 
republican in politics. 

W. D. Gardner, son of Capt. Gideon Gardner and Naomi Parker 
Gardner, was born in Massachusetts in 1829, and moved with his 
parents to Ohio, in 1882, and accompanied his father to Grinnell, 
Iowa, in 1854. He settled on a farm near Grinnell, and was en- 
gaged in farming ten years. In 1864 he came to New Hampton, 
and became proprietor of the New Hampton house, which he con- 
ducted eleven years. In 1877 he engaged in the drug business in 
company with Mr. Olmstead, which business he still continues. 
Was married to Harriet M. Lj^on, also a native of Massachusetts, 
and they have four children — Lyman B., Hattie S., Ida W. and 
Henry Ward. 

John A. Green, county treasurer, was born March 17, 1842, and 
is a son of Hazard Green, who came to Lake county, Illinois, in 
1845, where the family lived for about ten years, coming to Chick- 
asaw county in 1854, and settling in Jacksonville. The subject of 
this sketch enlisted in company C, thirty-eighth Iowa infantry, 
as second lieutenant, and served (itteen months. He was post- 
master of Lawler for a period of about ten years, and was elected 
to his present position in 1879, and re-elected in the fall of 1881. 

Harrison Gurley, a pioneer whose action and useful career has 
enabled him to retire from business, was born in Tolland county. 
Connecticut, January 14, 1815. He is a son of Roger and Pamelia 
Bicknell Gurley, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The 
family are descendants of Sir William I)e Gourley, of Scotland, 
who came to the new world when he was but fourteen years of age, 
in 1679, changing his name upon arrival to {)lahi William Gurley, 
and taking up his residence with a Dr. Stoddard, in Connecticut. 
William Gurley was drowned when twenty. two years of age, leav- 
ing a son, Samuel, from whom, as above stated, the subject of this 
sketch is a descendant. At twelve years of age Harrison Gurley 



CHICCA8AW COUNTV BIOGRAPHIKS. 517 

went to Windom county. Connecticut, remaining there until 1835, 
when he went to Hartford, his parents remaining in Windom 
county. At Hartford he was first employed as a clerk, afterwards 
engaged in the grocery business, and subsequently in merchant 
tailoring. In 1855 he immigrated to Grinnell, Iowa, where he re- 
mained about one year, during which time he was a dealer in- 
general merchandise. In the fall of 1856 he removed to New 
Hampton, moving his stock of goods hither from Grinnell, pur- 
chased thirty-three acrc^ of land, on part of which now stands the 
town of New Hampton, and was for ten years the only merchant 
in the place. In 1876 he was chosen president of the Hank of 
New Hampton, which position he held until December, 1881, 
when the bank was consolidated with the Chickasaw County bank, 
the two forming the present First National bank of New Hamp- 
ton, of which Mr. Gurley is still a director. His father, Captain 
Gurley, was an officer in the revolutionary war. The subject of 
our sketch was postmaster of New Hampton several years, and has 
for forty years been a member of the Congregational church. In 
politics Mr. Gurley is a republican. He married Isabell M. Ham- 
ilton, a daughter of James Hamilton, of New York, and they 
have one son. Royal H., who was born in 1861, and is now in his 
second year at the Iowa State Universit3^ 

VV. L. Darrow, banker, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 
1835, and is a .son of Luther and Hannah Kinne Darrow, his father 
was a native of Washington ceunty, New York, his mother of 
Vermont. The subject of this sketch lived in Genesee county 
until 1864, receiving his education at a graded school, and was for 
a portion of the time engagetl in school teaching. In 1864, his 
health failed him, he immigrated to lovva, driving a fiock of sheep 
from his native state througli to this state, and walking the entire 
distance, save from Dunkirk to Toledo. He arrived at New 
Hampton about eigliteen years ago, and camped near the townv 
sleeping the first night on the ground. Mr. Darrow next pur- 
chased a farm in Dccifield township, tiiis county, where he en- 
gaged in larming till 1870, when he removed to New Hampton, 
and engaged in money loaning and tJelling sewing machines and 
organs. This business he continued until 1879, when he went in- 
to banking and brokerage. in this latter year, in com])any with 
Mr. B. G. Smith, lie erected tlu- hamlsome brick business block in 



518 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

which they now do an increasing business. Mr. Darrow has 
broken over 1,000 acres of land in Chickasaw county, and opened 
a number of farms, a portion of which he has sold, but still pos- 
sesses 1,200 acres of improved lands, the larger portion of which is 
in Washington towaship. He is one of the ruost active, capable 
and trustworthy citizens of Chickasaw county, and as such, com- 
mands the res])ect and confidence of the citizens generally. .Mr. 
Darrow was married to Maria, Douglas, a native of Hillsdale coun- 
ty, Michigan, in 1864,and they hav^e one daughter, Verna. Mr. D. 
is a member of the M. E. church, and is a republican in his poli- 
tics. 

Dr. I, K. Gardner, physician and surgeon, was born in Canada 
West, in 1846, his parents being U. S. and Mary M. Gardner, the 
former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Berne, Switzerland. 
His parents moved to Sanilac county, Michigan, when he was 
four years of age, coming thence to New Hampton, in 1865, and 
settling upon the same farm upon which they have ever since re- 
sided. Mr. Gardner i^tudied medicine under the preceptorship of 
Dr. Mixer, of New Hampton, and subsequently graduated from 
the medical department of the University of Michigan. Return- 
ing to Chickasaw county he located at Lawler, in' 1870, practicing 
medicine there, until 1877, when he formed a partnership with his 
former preceptor. Dr. Mixer, and removed to New Hampton. He 
is a member of the state medical society, and the American Medi- 
cal association. Dr. Gardner married Maggie Gardner, a native of 
Michigan. Drs. Mixer & Gardner are among the most prominent 
-and successful physicians of northeastern Iowa. 

J. A. Albertson, deputy sheriff, was born in Stevenson county, 
Illinois, in 1818, his parents being Albert and Mary Ann Albert- 
son, both natives of Indiana. In 1852 he moved to West Union, 
Iowa, lived there about two years, and moved thence to Albany in 
the same county. At Albany he lived about eighteen months, 
coming thence to the old village of Chickasaw, in this county, in 
1855. His home was at Chickasaw until 1874, when he came to 
New Hampton to reside permanently. During the intervening 
years, however, Mr. A. was absent for periods of various duration 
from his home in Chickasaw. December Jst, 1861, he entered the 
government service, taking charge of a corral at Tipton Missouri, 
and in March, 1862, he went to St. Louis and enlisted in company 



CHICKASAW COL-.XTY BIOGRAPHIES. 519 

H, fourth Iowa cavalry, receiving his discharge February 23, 1864. 
He served with his regiment in various campaigns, and was with 
the company during the seige of Vicksburg. After the expiration 
of his term of service he returned to Chickasaw county and engag- 
ed in the milHng business until 1868, in which year he was elected 
county sheriff, serving in this official capacity two years. He was 
subsequently occupied in prospecting and mining among the 
mountains for about three years. Mr. Albertson became deputy 
sheriff of Chickasaw county January 1, 1882. lie is a representa- 
tive pioneer, and a citizen of sterling worth, who merits the univer- 
sal respect in which he is held by his fellow citizens. In 1864 he 
was married to Arminta M. Miller, of Tioga county. New York,and 
has one daughter, Dora. 

D. B. Sneden, justice of the peace, attorney at law and insurance 
agent, was born in New York city, in 1815, some months after the 
death of his father, Capt, David Jesse Sneden, who lost his life in 
the heroic performance of his duty as a sea captain, while off the 
coast of Virgini'a. His mother, Mary Berrien Sneden, also died 
when the subject of this sketch was about eight months old. D. 
B. Sneden lived witli .Judge Thompson, assaoLate judge of the 
court of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, at Great Bend, In 
that county, until 1839, when he returned to New York city, hav- 
ing a brother and three sisters living there. Thence in 1844 he 
moved west to. Madison, Wisconsin, where he subsequently built 
one of the largest brick blocks at that time in the city.. From 
Madison he went to Omro, Winnebago count}^, wliere he resided 
twenty -one years, during wliich time he held various public of- 
fices of responsibility and trust. While in Winnebago county he 
was at one time a condidate on the democratic ticket, for member 
of the state legislature, against Hon. Geo. W. Beckwith, and re- 
duced a republican majority of 900 to 343. He came to New 
Hampton in 1871, was elected justice of tlie peace during the same 
year, and has held the office ever since, with the exception of the 
year 1878. Mr. Sneden tirst studied law with tlie Hon. Franklin 
Lusk, of Susquehanna county, one of- Pennsylvania's leading law- 
yers, and was admitted to the bar in Wisconsin, and again in this 
state. He was tirst married in Pennsylvania to Lucy Buck, who 
died of consumption, in 1843, and in 1847 he married Miss Susan 

Phelps, of Dane county, Wisconsin. He has three daughters — 



520 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Alice v., now Mrs. H. J. Guest; Florence V., now Mrs. E. P. 
Sherman, and Blanche C, now Mrs. S. G. Boyce. The Sneden 
family is an old, extensive and highly respected family, who are 
settled principally in and about New York and Philadelphia, and 
are of ancient Holland and French derivation. Mr. Sneden has 
lost by death two children by his first marriage, Lucy C. and 

William A. 

« 

Hiram Shaver, attorney at law and mayor of New Hampton, 
was born in Groton, Tompkins county. New York, December 8th, 
1845, and is a son of Seymour and ¥j. Carpenter Shaver,, both of 
whom were natives of New York. When he was two years of age 
his parents moved to Kendall county, Illinois, where they remain- 
ed seven years, going thence to Green county, Wisconsin. They 
remained in Green county nine years, when they removed to Del- 
aware county, where they resided three years, after which, in 1867 
they went to Butler county. In the spring of 1868 the subject of 
our sketch began the study of law under G. C. Wright, teaching in 
the public school meanwhile, was admitted to practice in January 
1871, and in April of that year, located at New Hampton, this 
county, where he has ever since been engaged in the practice of 
his profession He was elected mayor of New Hampton in 1881, 
and re-elected in 1882. He married Estella Van Dorn, a native 
of Saratoga Springs, New York, and they have two children — P^s- 
tella rnd Roll a. 

Dr. A. H. Wight, county ^'ecorder, was born in Schujder county 
New York, in 1843, and is the eldest son of G. F. and Polly Wight, 
the former a native of Maine, the latter of New York. His pa- 
rents removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin, when he was nine 
years of age, where he lived until 1861, when he enlisted in com- 
pany E, tenth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, serving three years, 
and receiving his discharge at Madison, Wisconsin. He was 
wounded three times, once at the battle of Chickamauga, and 
twice at the battle of Chaplain Hills. Mr. W. served one year as 
second lieutenant in the eleventh Michigan regiment. On his re- 
turn from the army he located at Bellevue, Michigan, and studied 
medicine under Dr. H. T. Fero. He graduated at the Ann Arbor 
Medical Institute, in the class of '70, came west and located at 
Ionia, this county, where he practiced medicine until 1880, in 
which 5^ear he was elected to his present official position. He 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 521 

married Ellen S. Hemenway, a native of New York, and they 
have one child — Clarence. In politics Dr. Wight is a staunch re- 
publican. 

E. H. Yarger, proprietor of the Central house, was born in Cen- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, in 1854; came west to Stark county, 
Ohio, in 1856; removed to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, in 1857, 
where he lived one year, going thence to Green county, Wisconsin, 
and thence to webster county, Iowa. Here he lived on a farm 
from 1869 to 1876. From Webster county he moved to Green, 
Butler county, where he lived three years, going thence to Hamp- 
ton, Franklin county, Iowa, at which place he was engaged in the 
printing business. He then went to sumner, Bremer county ,where 
he ran the sumner Gazette, and from there to Clarksville, Butler 
county, where he became the proprietor of the Tremont House. 
In April, 1882, he came to New Hampton, and assumed the 
proprietorship of the Central House. He was married, August 14, 
1880, to Emma Cannan, a native of Hampton, and they have four 
children — Clara-, Emma, Elmer and Ettie. 

J. M. Lynch, county clerk, was born in Dayton, Montgomery 
county, Ohio, May, 12, 1855. In '58 the family moved to Chicka- 
saw county, Iowa, settling in Utica township. They subsequently 
removed to Lawler, where his father engaged in the mercantile 
business, young J. M. being employed as clerk. Upon the death 
of his father J.M. closed out the business, and was for some time 
thereafter a clerk in various establishments. In '77-8 he was en- 
gaged in trade in company with J. A. Green, dealing in drugs and 
groceries. He then sold his interest in the business and accepted 
a position in the Bank of Lawler, in which position he was occu- 
pied at the time of his election to the county clerkship in '80. He 
married Maria T. Kerby, a native of this county. They have one 
child — John D. 

A. E. Bigelow, president of the First National bank, was born in 
Genesee county. New York, in 1830, came west in '41, and settled 
in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1850. He 
then went to California. Three years later he returned to this 
county and settled in old Chickasaw, and engaged in farming un- 
til '64, when he came to New Hampton, having been elected 
county treasurer the preceeding fall. After the termination of his 
term of office he entered the banking business, establishing the 



622 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Chickasaw County bank in company with J. H. Easton, of De- 
corah, which bank is now known as the First National bank of 
New Hampton. He has been for a number of years largely inte- 
rested in real estate transactions, and was for two years sheriff of 
Chickasaw county, having been the second person elected to that 
position. He married Adeline Smith, of New York. They have 
six children, Lillie, Carrie L. Grant M., Dayton F., Harrie and 
Clyde. 

Edward T. Runion, one of Chickasaw county's well known pio- 
neers, is a son of Adam and Mary Moss Runion. and was born in 
New York in 1818. At an early age he left home and traveled 
through New York, and the west, stopping at Cleveland Ohio,when 
he was about eighteen years old. At Cleveland he lived twenty- 
five years, and subsequently seven years at Berea, Ohio, coming to 
New Hampton, this county, in '56. Here he engaged in farming, 
and started the first blacksmith shop in New Hampton in '57. 
Nearly all of his home farm is within the present town limits of 
New Hampton, his residence being a large and costly brick struc- 
ture. He owns in all 240 acres, among the most valuable lands in 
Chickasaw county. His town property is especially valuable, lots 
being in demand at high drices. Mr. R. married Elizabeth Falvey 
at Cleveland, Ohio. They have three children — John, Hannah 
and Allie. 

A. C. Boylan, attorney at law, was born in Mercer county, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1853. His parents were A. A. Boylan and Eliza 
McFarland Boylan, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the lat- 
ter of Ohio. In the fall of '56 the family moved to Green county, 
Wisconsin, where they remained until '66, when they came to 
Utica township, this county. A. C. Boylon lived upon the farm 
here about four years, tlien attended the Bradford academy three 
years, after which he was for three years a student of the State 
University. In the fall of '76 he read law a short time at Charles 
City, going thence to West Union, where he prosecuted his legal 
studies under the prece})torship of L. L. Ainsworth until October, 
1878, when he came to New Hampton and entered the practice «f 
his profession, in which he has ever since been lucratively engag- 
ed. December 1, '81, he was married to Mary A. Fitch, daughter 
of E. S. Fitch of New Hampton. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 523 

0. B. Sherman, dealer in general merchandise, was born in Ben- 
nington county, Vermont, in 1825, and is a son of Sterling and 
Jane Sherman, natives of Vermont. He lived on a farm with his 
parents until '55 when he came to Milwaukee,Wisconsin,remaining 
until '67, during which year he moved to New Hampton, and en- 
tered into his present business. Mr. Sherman married Caroline 
T. Port3r, a native of New York, and they have two sons — Ed- 
ward and Charles. Mr. Sherman is a staunch republican in 
politics. 

J. A. Lapham, county superintendent of public instruction, 
was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and is a son of C. T. 
and Olivia Lapham, both of whom are natives of New York. 
When he was one year of age they moved to Fayette county, Iowa, 
where they lived until '74, and then came to this county and lo- 
cated near Fredericksburg, soon after removing to Bradford, 
where they still reside. Mr. L.'s early life was spent on his father's 
farm, and subsequently he engaged in school teaching, in which 
profession he continued until his election to his present jjosition 
in '81. Was married to Ella Ranch, a native of this county, and 
they have one child. 

Hoi'ton Mandeville, sheriff of Chickasaw county, was born in 
Genesee county. New York, in 1829, and is a son of Michael and 
Elsa Maria Corey Mandeville, natives of New York. In '39 the 
family moved to Rockford, 111., where they still reside, and where 
young Horton grew to manhood. In '54 he came to Iowa, and lo- 
cated in Bradford, in this county, engaging in the mercantile busi- 
ness, which he continued five years. Then going to Cedar Falls, 
and engaging in the livery business, returning to Nashua, this 
county, in '64. Mr. M. was engaged in various business enter- 
prises 'from that time until '81, in which year he was elected to his 
present office. 

Joshua Sutter, dealer in groceries and provisions, was born in 
Switzerland in 1839, and was educated at the State University at 
Chur, receiving his diploma in 1865. Mr. S. came to America in 
'66, locating at Prairie du Chien, where he was employed as a 
teacher in the German and English schools until '75, when the in- 
stitution was consolidated with the public schools, he continuing 
as principal of the German and English department until '78, re- 
signing his j)osition on account of ill-health. Mr. S. then came to 



524 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

New Hampton and engaged in business as above. Was married 
to Emily Bothin, a native of Prussia, and they have three children 
— Emil. Ida and Alvin. 

W. J. Springer, attorney at law, born in Macon county, Illinois, 
in 1852. In '55 his parents moved to Iowa county, Iowa. His 
parents were W. G. and Lydia Springer, natives of Kentucky. The 
subject of our sketch read law in the office of Rumple & Lake, of 
Marengo, and was admitted to practice in August, 1879, at which 
time he located in New Hampton. Married Mary E. Wilson, a 
native of Ohio. They have two children — a son and daugh- 
ter. 

C. A. Harris, junior member of the firm of Kipp & Harris, deal- 
ers in general merchandise, was born in Worcester county, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1837, and is a son of Almon and Charlotte Sage Harris, 
natives of Massachusetts. In '54 he came with his parents to 
Chickasaw county and settled in Deerfield township; in '67 he 
moved to Chickasaw, where he remained four years in the general 
merchandise business; in '70 he was elected county recorder, and 
held the office ten years. Six months after going out of office he 
purchased an interest in the present business. Married Julia A. 
Harris, who was also born in Massachusetts, and they have two 
children — Edward A. and Addie V. 

S. W. Hartwell, dealer in harness, saddlery, etc., was born in 
Hubbardston, Massachusetts, in 1834, and is a son of B. and Roxa 
Sargent Hartwell, both ot whom were natives of Massachusetts. 
He came west in 1857, and settled in Franklin county, Iowa. Five 
years later he enlisted in company H, thirty -second Iowa volun- 
teer infantry, and served fifteen months, being discharged at Ft. 
Pillow, Tennessee. He returned to Franklin county, and after 
several changes of residence, came to New Hampton in 1880. Mr. 
Hartwell has been twice married, first to Mary Bigelow of New 
Hampton, who died in 1875, leaving two children, Ella and Eugene 
His second marriage was to Libbie Stone in 1881, and they have 
one child, an infant. 

O. Kelson was born in Norway in 1852, came to America ie '70, 
and settled in Ridgeway, Winnesheik county, Iowa, where he was 
engaged two years in blacksmithing. From Ridgeway he went to 
Oalmar, and entered into the saloon business, and in '77 came to 



CHICKCSAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 525 

New Hampton and entered his present business. Married Belle 
Hanson, a native of Norway; and they have three children, Ida A. 
Olef and Christian. 

E. P. Sheffield, county auditor, was born in Chenango county, 
New York, in 1843, and is a son of Erastus and Olivia Sheffield, 
both of whom were natives of New York. Mr. S. came west in '55 
and settled in DeKalb county, Illinois, where he lived until '64, 
when he came to Iowa and located in this township. Mr. S. en- 
gaged in various business until the fall of '79, wh^n he was elect- 
ed to his present office. 

G. F, Phillips, druggist, was born in Waupaca county, Wiscon- 
sin, in 1858. He came to Iowa with his parents in '59, locating at 
Lansing, where he lived ten years. From Lansing he removed to 
Lawler in '69. Mr. P. received his education at Fayette college. 
Married Ada L. Phelps, a native of Wisconsin. 

Dr. A. E. Clark, dentist, was born in Waukon, Iowa, in 1854, 
and is a son of John T. Clark, who now resides at Cresco. He 
was a student in the office of Dr. Charles Brown of Decorah, after 
which he located at Waukon, in the practice of dental surgery un- 
til '79, when he removed to New Hampton. 

John Norton, farmer, section 23, P. 0. Lawler; owns 240 acres 
of land; born in Ohio in 1820. In 1846 he moved to Michigan, 
and engaged in farming near Coldwater, in Branch county, re- 
maining six years, thence to Kane county, 111., settling near Au- 
rora, he remained there three years, and then came to Iowa, set- 
tling here; he obtained 160 acres from the government in Jackson 
township, which he afterwards sold, and purchased his present 
farm. He took a trip to Oregon, in view of locating, but returned 
to Iowa. He has thoroughly improved his land, and it is well 
fitted for stock raising. "He has a fine herd of Holstein cattle. He 
married Mi.s Mary Wolf, in 1846, in Ohio; their children are, Ira, 
Asa, Albert and Alvira, two children deceased. Mrs. Wolf died 
in 1862. 

George Hackett (deceased) was one of the early settlers of this 
township; he came to Iowa from Wisconsin, in October, 1863, and 
settled on the stage road, between New Hampton and Chickasaw 
and in the following January moved to section 32 in this town- 
ship, where he purchased 240 acres of land besides eighty acres of 



526 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIliS. 

timber in Dresden township. He was a much respected citizen, 
and highly esteemed by all. He died On the fourth of February, 
1879, since which time the property was divided, the widow re- 
taining the home property. Mr. H. was married to Mary Brown- 
wigg, a native of England; their children are William H. J. and 
Mary Ann. 

F. J. Wesp, farmer, owns 240 acres of land in this county, was 
born in Germany, in 1825, and came with his parents to the U. S. 
in 1831, They settled first in Jefferson county, N. Y. In 1847 
they went to Kingston, Canada West, remaining two years, then 
returned to New York, for two years, and again to Canada, re- 
maining eight years, during which time he farmed and worked on 
the lakes. In '59 he went to Wisconsin, and farmed in Richland 
county ten years, then came to Iowa, locating where he now re- 
sides. He was married in 1846, in New York, to Mary Davis, 
their children are, Sylvester R., John, Samuel, George, Nelson, 
Hannah, Amyety, Mary, Philip, Ethan and Joseph. 

Wm. Krieger, farmer, section 33, owns 160 acres of land; was 
born in Davenport, Scott county, Iowa, in 1855. In '75 he came 
to Chickasaw county with his parents, who bought 320 acres of 
land. He has resided on his present farm since 1880, previous to 
which time he resided with his parents. Married Mary Popen- 
heim, at New Hampton, in April, 1880. They have two children, 
Mary and Gerhard. 

John Kleinfeihn, farmer, owns 160 acres of land; was born in 
"Waterford, Racine county. Wis., in April, 1852. Worked at lum- 
bering at Manistee, Mich., for a number of years, but made his 
home in Wisconsin until January, 1876, when he came to this 
state, and purchased the land he now owns, and where he has 
since resided Married in January, 1880, at North Washington, 
in this county, to Mary Hauser; their children are Johnnie and 
Allie. 

Hon. J. F. McCallum, farmer, sections 9 and 10; born in Mont- 
rose, Pa., June 20, 1813, He learned the trade of saddler, and 
moved to Schenectady, N. Y., in the fall of '34, he also learned 
the Daguereotype business, which he followed at Saratoga, N. Y. 
In '51 he moved to Dodge county. Wis., and for several years con- 
ducted an hotel at Buckhorn corners, four miles from Beaver Dam 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 527 

He also owned a farm in Trenton township, same county. In the 
fall of '62 he was elected representative to the state legislature 
from his district, which comprised Trenton, Beaver Dam town- 
ship and city, and the townships of Lowell and Shields. In the 
fall of '63 he was returned to the same position. He is, and al- 
ways has been a staunch democrat. In April, '73 he came to 
Iowa, settling where he now resides. He fills prominent positions 
in most of the political meetings of his party, and is a strong 
party leader. Mr. McCallum was married in 1840 to Barbara A. 
Stuart, and they have one son, M. S. He is a member of I. 0. 0. 
F. No. 117 of Beaver Dam, Wis. 

Major W. D. Collins, farmer, and ex-county superintendent 
owns eighty acres of land; born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1826, his 
parents moved to Bennington, Vt., in his childhood; he was from 
early manhood engaged in the educational and school work at 
that place, as principal of the city schools of Bennington, until the 
breaking out of the late rebellion, when he assisted in the organ- 
ization of the only cavalry regiment sent from that state, and w-as 
commissioned major. He remained at the front until May 24, 
'62, when he received injuries while in command of the rear guard 
in a cavalry charge, during Bank's retreat on the Shenandoah. In 
the following June he was compelled to resign, and received an 
honorable discharge June, '63, on account of wounds and debility, 
for which he receives pension. He returned to Vermont, thence 
to Sandwich, 111., where he held the position of principal of the 
city schools, for three years, thence west to Missouri, and had 
charge of the city schools of Brookfield and Paris, at different 
times, for between three and four years; he then came to Iowa, 
settling in New Hampton, where he had previously bought pro- 
perty while on a visit, and which he still owns, he purchased his 
farm property in the fall of '82. Mr. Collins has spent most of 
his life in the educational field, in Vermont. Ohio, Illinois, Mis- 
souri and Iowa. He was principal of the city schools of New 
Hampton for a considerable length of time, and was the origina- 
tor of the graded school system still in use. In the fall of 1875 he 
was elected to the office of county superintendent by an over- 
whelming majority, as an independent candidate. He was re- 
elected in 1877 on the republican ticket by a large majority. Af- 
ter the expiration of his term of office he took charge of the city 



528 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Bchools, at Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, but was obliged to give 
it up before his year was completed on account of ill health, his 
physician forbidding work of any kind. The major is also an at- 
torney at law, having been admitted in Grundy county, 111., and 
afterwards in this state, although he has never made law a busi- 
ness. He was married at Joliet, 111., in January, 1869, to Emily 
C, daughter of Colonel Erastus Crocker, of Madison, Ohio; they 
have one daughter living, Mary E. C, and one son, Erastus, (de. 
ceased). Mr. Collins is a royal arch mason, and a member of the 
blue lodge, A. F. and A. M., at New Hampton, also a member of 
the A. 0. U. W., charter member of the lodge of New Hampton. 
He is a member of the congregational church, with which denomi- 
nation he has been identified since before the war. • 

J. S. Marr, farmer, owns a farm of 240 acres; born in Scotland 
in 1828, and in the spring of 1848 he came to the United States,. 
and lived in New York between eight and nine years, engaging in 
business as cari^enter and joiner, he then came west, and after stop- 
ping three weeks in Illinois, settled in this county, and pre-empt- 
ed land in North Washington township, which he afterwards sold, 
and then bought where he now resides. He was one of the pio- 
neers of this part of the county, and is a citizen of considerable 
prominence, and has filled many offices in township and school 
affairs. His farm is thoroughly improved and well stocked. He 
was married in New York city, in 1852 to Marian Smith, by 
whom he had five children, Agnes, Johnnie, Maggie, James and 
Charley. Mrs. M. died at this place April 14, 1879, and he again 
married in December, 1880, Kate Cassiday. 

J. K. Kroninger, farmer, owns ninety-five acres; born in the 
state of Delaware, in 1817; his parents moved to Berks county, 
Pa., in 1821, where he grew up to manhood; he then moved to 
Delaware county, Ohio, and worked at his trade as coach maker.. 
In '54, owing to the severe ravages of cholera in that state, he was 
compelled to leave, and he came to Iowa. He left his family at 
North Elkader, (McGregor was not founded at that time) and he 
pushed west, and finally located on section 36, town 95, range 12,. 
in this county. He entered 120 acres by pre-emption. There 
were at that time no settlers here, except a few trapping along the 
river. About seventeen settlers came into the neighborhood in 
same year, but only seven remained to battle with the hardships 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 529 

of pioneer life, the rest returning east. The seven were John 
Norton, E. Collins, Alvin Brown, D. R. Cole, King, Tim Mc- 
Carthy and the subject of this sketch. They met on one occasion 
and banded themselves as pioneers, with the intent of standing 
the brunt of the frontier. Mr. K. built a log house and com- 
menced breaking and improving, and after having been here one 
and a half years, he went to North Elkader and brought his fam- 
ily out. The first wheat crop he raised was very large in propor- 
tion to the amount sown, but the second season not so good, on 
account of excessive rains and high water, which continued into 
July. The- settlers were unable to get provisions, and were hard 
pressed, and if it had not been for the great amount of buckwheat 
raised, many would have starved, but they ground it in their 
coffee mills, and subsisted on that until able to get to the trading 
points. The land Mr. K. now owns is part of the original home- 
stead, is well fitted and devoted to stock purposes. Mr. K. par- 
ticipated in the organization of the first school district in the 
county, it included part of Dresden, New Hampton, Stapleton 
and Fredericksburg townships, and was called district number 
one. The school building was of log, and was situated at the cor- 
ners of the four townships. The first directors were Thomas 
Wokes, D. R. Cole and Mr. Kroninger. Mr. K. has also been a 

- member of the county board of supervisors for three years, during 
the war. He- was treasurer four years of the school district above 
mentioned, and in February, 73, when they organized an inde- 
pendent district he was elected treasurer, which position he has 
held ever since. He is the pioneer of this township, and is a 

^highly esteemed citizen, as the above facts clearly show. He was 
married in '42, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Sloanacker, by whom he 
has two children living, Joseph Henry and Albert Jacob, and 
three deceased. Joseph and Albert served during the late rebel- 
lion, and enlisted from this county. 

John Annett (retired farmer) born in county Down, Ireland, in 
1824. In '31 he came with his parents to America, and settled 
first in Cornwall, lower Canada, where they were engaged in farm- 
ing. When he was about sixteen years of age they sold their 
place and came to the United States, and settled at Fort Coving- 
ton, Franklin county, N. Y., where he remained with his parents 

ntil their death. He enlisted at Malone, Franklin county, N. Y., 



530 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

in the sixtieth New York volunteer infantry, company E, and he 
remained in the service three years and four months, and received 
a severe bullet wound at the battle of Antitam, on the 17th of 
September, '62, and still carries the bullet in his body, as a gen- 
tle reminder of that little unpleasantness. He was discharged on 
account of his wound, and returned to New York, but he became 
weary and wanted to get back to the front, so he re-enlisted in the 
ninety-fifth regiment, and served to the close of the war. He re- 
ceived his final discharge in June, '65, after being released from 
the southern prisons, where he had spent six months in Libby, 
Salsburg and Belle Isle. He was captured within one-half mile 
of Petersburg, October 1, '64. He returned to New York after the 
war, and sold his property in the same year, and moved to this 
county. He purchased a farm two and a half miles north of New 
Hampton, where he lived until the spring of '83, when he moved 
to New Hampton, where he owns fine property, and left the farm 
to be worked by his sons. Was married October 12, '46, in Frank 
lin county, N. Y., to Miss S. Blodgett, and they have four chil- 
dren living, Margaret, Celia, Joseph and Jerome. They have lost 
nine children. 

Josephus Straw, farmer, sections 21 and 22, owns 122 acres; was 
born in Wyandotte county, Ohio, in '26. In '55 he went to Green 
county, Wis., remaining four years, then in '59 came to Iowa, and 
settled where he now resides; he had purchased the land in '56. 
There were very few actual settlers at that time, there being only 
four buildings in New Hampton, and McGregor was the trading 
point. The farm is thoroughly improved and stocked. Mr. S. 
was married in '48, in Ohio, to Elizabeth Stansberry. They have 
nine children, Sarah Ann, Priscilla, Elizabeth, Liddia, George W. 
Orelia, James H., Amanda and Josephus. 

G. P. Drewelow, farmer, sections 28 and 29, owns 160 acres of 
land; was born in Prussia, in 1838, and came to America, with his 
parents, in '57. They came directly west, stopping three months 
in Dubuque, thence to this county. They first located in Staple- 
ton township, where his father, Frederick William Drewelow,pur- 
chased 400 acres. In '63 he removed to this township, and pur- 
chased the land he now tills. He has improved his land thor- 
oughly and fitted it up for stock purposes. In May '77 he lost 
his barn and its contents by fire; in September, '81, he also lost 



CHICCASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 531 

his house by fire. Mr. D. was married in '59 in Stapleton town- 
ship to his cousin, Miss Augusta Drewelow, and their children are 
Herman, Gustav, Fred, Albert and Mary. 

John P. Zimmerman (retired) was born in Germany in 1810,and 
is by occupation a farmer. In '36 he came to the United States, 
and settled first in the state of New York, and was engaged on 
railroad work about five years ; he then moved to Wisconsin, and 
entered the hotel and butchering business. After remaining 
there three years he removed to Fox river, Kane county, 111., 
where he remained twelve years, engaged principally in butcher- 
ing. He then came to Fayette county, Iowa, where he bought 
land, and farmed for about thirteen years, and then moved to the 
town of New Hampton in '69, where he has since resided, and pur 
chased property. Was married in '52, in Illinois, to Janie Hien- 
wold, and they have seven children, Janie, Amelia, EUie, Henry, 
Lizzie, George^and William. 

Michael Maloney, farmer, section twenty, owns 220 acres; was 
born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1847. His parents moved to Ocono- 
mowoc. Wis., in '55, where he resided until '70, whsn he came to 
this county, and purchased land and ojDened up the farm he now 
owns. It is situated one and a half miles south and one mile 
east of town, and is thoroughly improved and fitted for stock. He 
has a herd of over one hundred head of cattle. He married 
Mary Ennesy on the 30th of January, 1870, at Oconomowoc, and 
they have three children, William, Agnes and Francis. Mrs. M. 
pied on the 27th of December, '81. 

J.U. Mixer , farmer; owns 200 acres, Sec. 18; New Hampton tp.; 
was born in Ohio, in 1821, and was engaged in the lumber trade, 
saw mills and farming, until Sep. '49, he went to Wis; when he en- 
gaged in farming, and remained until Oct. 1867, then coming to 
Iowa settling at this place, and purchased the farm, where he has 
remained ever since. The land is thoroughly improved and is 
thoroughly fitted as a stock and dairy farm, and is situated within 
a mile of the center of town. 

Mr. M. has filled various ofl&ces in the various localities of his 
residence, having been dep; treas. of the co. in Wis. where he re- 
sided, also dep. sheriff in the same place. He was married in 1847 
at Madison Ohio, to Miss Eliza M. Cracker, and their children are, 
Minnie M., Henry E., Walter C, Eva E. and J, U. Jr. 



532 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Marcus M. Utley, farmer; owns 135 acres in sec. 8; New Hamp- 
ton tp. P. 0. New Hampton. Mr. Utley was born in Jefferson Co. 
N. Y. in 1835. In 1855 he moved to Wisconsin, and engaged in 
farming for four years, then came to this state, and settled in this 
county, at the place where he now resides. He purchased the land 
for $6. per acre, and it is now worth $50. per. acre, is within one 
mile of town, and it is thoroughly improved and well stocked with 
cattle of fine breeds, and Mambrino Morgan, Grade Norman and 
Cleveland bay horses; of which he is justly proud. He was married 
in Feb. 1860, at Kenosha. Wis. to Miss Elizabeth L. Pierce, and 
their children are, Lyman M. and Ida Belle. 

James B. Hartson, farmer; owns 120 acres in sec. 33; was born 
in Susquehanna Co. Penn. 1848,and is the son of L.D. & Elizabeth 
Hartson. His parents moved to Dodge Co Wis. remaining there 
four years, then came to Iowa, settling in this Co. located first in 
Fredericksburg tp. where they remained three years, after which 
they moved to this tp. His parents removed to Kansas in '79. Mr. 
H. has filled many offices in the school and district boards, and 
has been road supervisor several years; is a member of Fredericks- 
burg Lodge No. 333 AF.. A. M. Mr. Hartson was married in Jan. 
1875, in this township to Mary Snyder, and has three children 
Ralph, Mattie and Florence. 

Capt. J. R. Kenyon, farmer; P. 0. New Hampton farm com- 
prises 300 acres on sections four. New Hampton tp., and 33 Jack- 
sonville tp. Mr. K. was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England 
in 1840. He came to the U. S. with his parents in 1842, settling 
first at New Hartford, Oneida Co., N. Y. When he was seventeen 
years old he moved west and settled in Walworth Co., Wis. In 1862 
he enlisted in the service of the general government and was ap- 
pointed captain of Co. E, 28th Regt. Wis. Infantry, where he 
served until the close of the war. He participated in all the battles 
marches and seiges, in which his regt. had the honor to engage, 
and was mustered out September 23rd, 1865, at Brownsville Texas. 
Mr. Kenyon came to Iowa in 1866 and purchased the land on 
which he now lives. In the spring of 1878, he established a creamery 
upon his farm, and Avas the first manufacturer of butter under that 
system in this Co. he keeps from seventyfive to one hundred head 
of cattle upon las farm, and has a large barn and fine residence. 
He was married in the fall of 1865 at La Grange, Walworth Co., 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



533 



Wis., to Miss L. E. Houghton, and they have five children, viz; 
Earle, Maud, Hattie, Houghton & Bessie. Mr. Kenyon is an in- 
fluential and prominent member of the V. A. S. 

L. "M. Churchill, farmer; owns 80 acres in New Hampton tp. P. 0. 
Lawler; was born in Mich, in 1827. In 1850 he went to Kane Co. 
111., remaining one year then removed to the city of Green Bay, 
Wis. ., engaging in various businesses. In 1871, he came to Iowa, 
settling on the land he now resides on. He is an influential citizen, 
and prominent in the affairs of township management, and schools. 
Mr. Churchill was married in Wis., to Miss R. C. Mapes. 




«» 



534 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



JACKSONVILLE TOWNSHIP. 



Mr. H. Johnson, farmer; cwns 120 acres, sec. 11 Jacksonville P.O. 
Born in Norway in 1837, emigrated to the U. S. in 1860 and lived 
one year in Wisconsin thence to Iowa and settled where he now 
^resides, and purchased the farm which he has improved and stock- 
ed. He was married in 1860 in Norway; to Miss Martha Thompson, 
They have five children; Herman, Louis, Alva, Annie, and Isabel. 

C. G. Miller, farmer; owns 200 acres, sec. 34 Jacksonville P.O. is 
a native of Germany, and came to the U.S. in 1854, and lived in 
N.Y. about 7 years he is a brickmaker by trade. He then came to 
Iowa, and settled near Ft. Atkinson in Winnesheik Co. farmed 
there four years. In 1867 he came to this county and purchased 
forty acres, where he now resides; having since purchased the rest. 
The farm is arranged as stock and dairy farm. A fine residence re- 
cently built, and fine barns adorn this valuable property. He was 
married in November 1858,at Glascow Ulster county N.Y. to Julia 
Weiss, they have six children ChaiiesG. Annie J. William A. George 
H. Alva Lee and Pearly Viola. 

C. J. Reilly, farmer, sec. 24 Saude P. O. was born in Canton Mass. 
in 1846; his parents moved in his childhood to Washington county 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 535 

Wisconsin. In the fall of 1854 they moved to Iowa and settled in 
Utica township, where Sylvester Reilly his father still resides. In 
1878 C. J. moved to his present place of residence, he had previous- 
ly bought the land; he owns 200 acres mostly improved, and well 
stocked. He was married in Utica township to Miss Mary E. Gor- 
man in September 1877. 

Thos. McCarten (a deceased pioneer of Jacksonville township) 
was born in county Down, Ireland, in 1813. He came to the 
United States in '43, and worked on public works near Pittsburgh, 
Pa., then came to Iowa, settling in Dubuque county, where he re- 
sided eight years, being engaged for four years in the lead mines, 
and then'moved onto his farm in that county, remaining four 
years. In 1856 he sold out, and came to this county, and pur- 
chased 420 acres on Crane creek,to which he added later 360 acres. 
He became busily engaged in farming, and thoroughly improved 
his property, an,d was one of the most extensive farmers in that, 
township. He was a man of prominence, but avoided public life, 
but served one term as member of the county board of supervis- 
ors, and" was also justice of the peace several years. He was mar- 
ried in Ireland, to Margaret Welch, by whom he had six daugh- 
ters and five sons, namely, Annie, Patrick (deceased), Arthur^,. 
Elizabeth, John (deceased), Thomas, Margaret, Mary, Alice, Cath- 
arine and Joseph. Mr. McCarten died September 6th, '79, at his 
home in Jacksonville township, at the age of sixty -six years. Mrs. 
McCarten died at the same place in '69. The farm is conducted 
by Thos. McCarten Jr., the family still residing at the old home- 
stead. 

Jeremiah Fitzpatrick, farmer, Jacksonville P. 0., owns 300 acres 
in section eleven, Jacksonville township; was born in county 
Cork '■reland, in 1813. His father was a farmer and blacksmith 
with A. lom Mr. Fitzpatrick served an apprenticeship. In '35 he 
came to the United States and stopped a short time in Maine,, 
thence to Boston, where he worked at his trade two years; from 
there he moved to Ohio, and located at Fort Defiance. In 1838 he 
removed to Illinois, where he worked on the canal. In the fall 
of '39 he moved to Galena, the following year he made a trip to 
St. Louis and New Orleans. Shortly afterwards he returned to^ 
Boston, where he was married; removing from there to Ohio 
wbei'C he worked on the Great Western raili'oad two years. In '55- 



536 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

he came to Iowa, and located at the above named place, where he 
bought 320 acres at government price. The farm is the original 
homestead, and is under fence and full cultivation. It is well fit- 
ted for stock and dairy purposes, having a fine herd of high grade 
Durhams. Mr. F. served as township trustee several years during 
the early history of the county. He married Catherine Collins, 
and they have had ten children born to them, seven of whom are 
living: Jeremiah, Daniel, Patrick, James, Michael, Ellen and 
Mary. 

John Davidson, farmer, section 10, P. 0. Jacksonville, owns 
about 400 acres of land; was' born in Union county, Penn., in the 
year 1825, his parents moving to Ohio in '35, and engaged in farm- 
ing in Portage Co. In '45 the subject of this sketch went to Indi- 
ana, and settled in LaPorte county, and worked at his trade as 
carpenter and joiner. In January, '56, he started for Iowa, by 
team, by way of Fulton City and Lyons, on the Mississippi, and 
he was on the road eighteen days. He first settled on Crane 
creek, on section 3, in ihis township, where he bought forty acres 
of land, and remained two years. He then purchased land where 
he now resides. His farm is one of the finest in the county, and 
the improvements first-class; his large residence being one of the 
finest and best arranged in the county; his fine barns, etc., are 
thoroughly fitted for stock purposes. He has some fine blooded 
short-horn cattle on his farm. Mr. D. was married in '49 at La- 
Porte, Indiana, to Miss Lucas, and they have five children living, 
whose names are, James H., Wm. E., John, Charles A. and 
Amanda Mabel; they have lost four, George F., Ulysses S., Alfred 
Jerome and Mary M. 

Peleg Sherman, farmer, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 240 acres of 
land in sections 19 and 20, sixteen acres of timber in section 36, 
and two acres of timber in Washington township. The subject of 
this sketch was born in Lake comity, Illinois, in 1840. In '56 his 
parents came to Iowa, and settled in Chickasaw county, locating 
in Washington township. Shortly after his arrival here he enter- 
ed a claim of 120 acres from the government, and was among the 
earliest settlers of that township. In '56 the subject of this sketch 
moved '^o his present place of residence, which he had previously 
purchased. The farm is thoroughly improved and fitted for 
stock purposes, with every convenience for the same. Mr. S. was 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 537 

married in April '65, at Waucoma, Fayette county, Iowa, to Julia 
A. Finch, and their children are, Ellsworth P. and Zora E. 

Thomas McAloon, farmer, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 840 acres 
in Jacksonville township, and ten acres in New Hampton town- 
ship. He was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1826, and 
came to America in '44, stopping in New York until the spring of 
'45, when he removed to Lowell, Mass., and worked in the facto- 
ries in that city, and also at Lawrence, Mass., for several years. 
In April, '56, he came to Iowa, and settled in this township. He 
now owns all the above described land, and operates it all himself 
with the aid of his sons, he is about the most extensive farmer in 
the township, and pays considerable attention to the raising of 
pure stock; he has a herd of about 100 cattle, among which are 
Holsteins and Durhams; about eighteen head of horses are kept 
on the farm. He has erected on his place one of the largest barns, 
in the county, "it is 34x100 feet, and thoroughly fitted with every 
convenience. A fine residence adorns his valuable homestead. He 
was married in '57 at Lawrence, Mass., to Mary Egan, and their 
children are, Peter, John, Terence, James, Isabella and Mary E.j 
they have lost one daughter, Ellen. 

Seth Martin, postmaster, Jacksonville, also real estate, insur- 
ance agent and notary public. Mr. Martin was born in Gains- 
borough, Lancashire, Eng., in 1819; he was engaged for eleven 
years in the Chatham dock yards, in the royal naval service. In 
'51 he imigrated to the United States, and settled in Sturgis coun- 
ty, Mich,, and was in the employ of the Michigan Southern and 
Northern Indiana railroad company, for about six years; in '56 he 
migrated to Iowa, and located in Chickasaw county, and stuck 
stakes in Jacksonville township, on section 4, and purchased 160 
acres of the government. In '61 he enlisted in company H, fourth 
Iowa cavalry, and was among the first to volunteer; he was first 
appointed bugler of the company, and in '62 he was promoted to 
the position of quarter-master sergeant, which position he held un- 
til after the fall of Vicksburg, in '63, when he was discharged, by 
virtue of a re-enlistment as a veteran, he was again appointed to 
the position of quarter-master sergeant; he was recommended for 
promotion in December, '64, and received a commission as first 
lieutenant and commissary of subsistance, while at Gray ville, Ala. 
He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged at At- 



538 CHICKASAW COU^fTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

lanta, Aa., and finally paid oflfat Davenport, Iowa, in August '65. 
Mr. M. received injuries during service for which he received a 
pension. He returned to Chickasaw county, and soon after sold 
his farm, and purchased land in Utica township, where he still 
owns 180 acres of land, which is all improved, and is conducted 
•by his son, John A. Martin. In April, '82, he received a commis- 
sion as postmaster, at this place, and removed to the village, where 
he has since resided; he also holds a commission as notary pub- 
lic, and has established a good real estate business. Mr. M. is a 
prominent citizen, and well known throughout the entire county. 
He is a staunch republican, and an energetic and strong worker in 
the conventions. Mr. M. is a' member of J. V. Carpenter post, G. 
A. R., No. 104, Fredericksburg, Iowa. He was married in Eng- 
land in 46, to Miss Annie Everatt. The subject of this sketch has 
filled the position of head turnkey and schoolmaster of the jail at 
Kerton Lindsey, Lincolnshire, Eng., for six years. Mrs. M. was 
matron of the same institution for several years, and as they could- 
not marry and retain their jDosition, they resigned their lucrative 
situations, to enable them to marry; their children are Louisa R., 
Mary J., John A. and Charles S. 

Adolphus Anderson, farmer, P. 0. Jacksonville; was born in 
1852 in McHenry county, Ills., his father, Charles Anderson, being 
one of the earliest settleis of that county, and who lost his life dur- 
ing the late war, while serving in the ninety-fifth Illinois infantry, 
at Nashville, Tenn. Adolphus came to Iowa in April, 1880, and set- 
tled at this place, where he operates a farm of 440 acres. He was 
married in January, 1871, in Illinois, to Miss Maria Reid, and their 
children are Edward A., Annie E., DelbertC.,Cora M., George W. 
and Robert W. 

T. Donavin, farmer, P. 0. Jacksonville, owns 180 acres of farm 
land in Jacksonville township, ten acres of timber land in the 
same township. Mr. D. was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1822 
When eighteen years old he came to the United States and was en- 
gaged at railroading, in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, seve- 
ral years. In '58 he came to Iowa, and settled in this township, 
and purchased twenty acres, since which time he has added the 
rest, as he became able. He was one of the earliest settlers, and 
hus grown up with the county, and has accumulated a nice pro- 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 539 

perty, in the shape of a valuable farm fitted thoroughly for a gene, 
ral farming and stock business. Was married in '53, in Massa- 
chusetts, to Abbie Harrington, and they have five children — Tim- 
othy, Daniel, Catherine, Mary and Nora. 

H. H. Shafier (deceased), late of Jacksonville township, was 
born in Butler county, Penn, 1824, and came to Iowa in '53, up 
to which time he had been engaged in farming and school teach- 
ing. In March of this year he went to Scott county, and in the 
September following moved to Winnesheik county, where he re- 
mained one year, and then removed to this county, and settled on 
a claim that he had already located, in Jacksonville township. He 
was the first settler to make any improvements, and open a farm 
in that vicinity. Mr,. S. originally owned 640 acres, but part has 
been sold, and the farm now consists of about 320 acres. He has 
filled the office of county surveyor several years, and was also 
justice, of the peace, for several years; besides having filled many 
other offices. He was a man universally respected, and one of 
the pioneers of the county. He died on November 23, 1882, aged 
fifty-eight years, leaving his widow Mrs. Sarah Shaff'er (nee Albert) 
to whom he was married just before leaving Pennsylvania, in '53; 
their children are, N. Ellen, Mary C, Sarah J., William G. and 
Alvah H.; one son, John Cassius, died in '56. The farm is con- 
ducted by Mrs. Shaffer, and her son W. G., and is one of the best 
in the township, being thoroughly adapted for all purposes. 

Edson Sewell, farmer, owns 210 acres of land in section 15. P. 0, 
Jacksonville, was born in Boone county, Ills., in 1852, his father, 
Isaac Sewell, being a pioneer of that county. Edson resided with 
his parents until February,1874, when he came to Iowa, settling in 
this township, he purchased eighty acres at that time, and has since 
added the rest, which is all improved, and constitutes one of the 
finest stock farms in the township, being peculiarly well fitted for 
that purpose. He was married in the fall of 1874, to Miss Nancy 
Ellen Shaffer, they have living one child, Alice Edna, and have lost 
one son, Frank Everett, who died April 1 2, 1883,aged one year and 
twelve days, Mr. Sewell has filled the office of township trustee four 
years. 

M. Casey, Sr., farmer, section 18, P. 0. New Hampton, is a na- 
tive of county Tipperary, Ireland, and came to the United States 



540 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

in 1850. He came to Iowa in '64, having lived the intervening 
years in New York, Vermont, Canada and about six years in 
Wisconsin. Mr. C. had pre-empted eighty acres of land here pre- 
vious to settling, and has since purchased 162 acres more; the land 
is all well improved, and fitted as a stock farm, and an average of 
about forty head of cattle being kept on the farm, and six head of 
horses. M. Casey, Jr. owns 160 acres of the above land, and man- 
ages the whole farm. Mr. Casey, Sr., has filled many ofiices of 
trust, since his residence here, and is an old settler, greatly re- 
spected by all. Was married to Miss Dee, by whom he has five 
children, John, James, Michael, Margaret and Mary. 

W. E. Hurd, farmer, P. O. New Hampton, owns 173 acres in 
section 33, this township; was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 
June, 1843, he was raised on a farm, and received his education 
in the public schools, and at the seminary, at Fulton, N. Y., 
which place he was attending, when at the call for troops he en- 
listed, in August, '62, in 111th New York volunteer infantry, com- 
pany B. He was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, in September 
'62, paroled, and finally exchanged during the following winter; 
he was placed on detailed service at the Marine Hospital, at Chi- 
cago, and finally discharged on account of ill health and physical 
disability the following spring. He returned to New York, and in 
'65, after re-cuperating, he came to Iowa, settling in New Hamp- 
ton township, where he purchased land, and improved the same. 
In the summer of '74 he sold out and moved to this township,and 
purchased the farm he now owns. The land is rolling and well 
watered, and thoroughly adapted for stock and dairy farm, for 
which he has fitted it. Mr. H. has filled the office of township 
trustee in New Hampton township, several terms, and justice of 
the peace three years in this township. Was married in the win- 
ter of '64 in New York, to Rachel Lamb, and their children are, 
Eugene C, Clara L., Charles A., Minnie M., Hattie, Willie and 
Clarence. 

J. B. Stebbins, farmer,section 18, P. O. New Hampton,was born 
at Long Meadow, Hampton county, Mass., May 11 '40. In '61 he 
removed to Will county. Ills., where he purchased land, and 
lived ten years. In June, 1871, he came to Stapleton township, in 
this county, and entered eighty acres of government land, which 
had been overlooked. He owned this land until October, 1874, when 



CHICKCSAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 541 

he sold out,and purchased the property he now owns,which is fine 
prairie land, well improved, and well adapted for stock purposes. 
James Ure. farmer, section 30, P. 0. New Hampton, was born in 
Falkirk, Scotland in 1826. His parents came to the United States 
in '31, and settled in New Hartford, Oneida county, N. Y. and he 
was for several years engaged in a cotton manufactory. In the fall 
of '60 he removed to Dane county. Wis., where he farmed for about 
eight years, when he came to Iowa, settling in this county and pur- 
chasing the 255 acres he now owns. The land was partly improved 
and is now thoroughly so, well stocked with cattle of high grade, 
and good teams. Mr. Ure was married in '55, to Annie Kenyon, at 
New Hartford, N. Y. and the children of this union are Charles, 
Susie, Elmer and Samuel. 

Frederick Markle, farmer, section 10, P. 0. Jacksonville, owns 
520 acres of land; was born on August 25, 184 J, in Wurtemburg, 
Germany, at the age of eleven years, he was left an orphan, by the 
death of his mother, his father having died five years before. 
When fourteen years old he came with a s ist er to the United 
States, a brother who had come some years previous, providing 
the passage money. He first worked in Herkimer county, N. Y., 
where he remained five years. At the breaking out of the rebel- 
lion, being twenty years of age, he enlisted in the second New 
York, heavy artillery; in '63 he re-enlisted in the same regiment, 
and served with it until January, '65, when he received appoint- 
ment from the president, to the first lieutenancy of the twelfth 
United States colored heavy artillery. During service he partici- 
pated at the battles of Cold Harbor, second Bull Run, Petersburg, 
etc. He was mustered out and discharged April, '66, at Louis- 
ville, Ky., after service of four and a half years, having received a 
severe wound during the service, he now receives a pension from 
the government. After his discharge he came to Iowa, on a visit, 
and liking the country, he bought land in this township, and has 
resided here since. He is located on Crane creek, and is exten- 
sively engaged in farming and stock raising; his farm is beauti- 
fully located and well equipped, using three work teams, and em- 
ploying two hands; extensive barns and other necessary buildings 
adorn the model farm. Mr. M. is president of the Chickasaw 
county agricultural society, and has filled various offices in the 
township. Was married in '66,at New Hampton,to AlcenaM. Ab- 



542 . CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. * 

bott, daughter of E. C. Abbott, one of the pioneers of Utica town- 
ship; they have four children living, Izetta A., Albert F., Effie A. 
and Grant E., and Iowa A., died in infancy. 

R, B. Schoonover, farmer, section 20, P. 0. New Hampton, was 
born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1822. He came to Iowa in 1849, 
settling first in Dubuque county, where he farmed for six years. 
He then removed to this county and purchased 160 acres of land 
in this township, of which the land he now owns is a part. Mr. S. 
is a graduate of Westerville college, Westerville, Ohio, and was en- 
gaged in the field of education for several years, in that state. He 
has filled the office of trustee of this township several years. He 
was married in '49, in Ohio, to Rebecca Urie, their children are 
Jennie, Perry, Samuel, Emma, Minnie, Charley and Effie and Eva, 
twins. 

William Johnston, farmer, section 28, P. 0. New Hampton; was 
born in Indiana county, Pa., in 1829. In '48 he removed to Kit- 
taning, Armstrong county. Pa., where he learned the trade of car- 
penter. In '51 he married Hannah Willard, of that place. In '56 
he immigrated to Dunleith, 111,, and in the same year he came to 
this county. In '58 he located at New Hampton and worked at 
his trade of carpenter. In '58-9 he built|the New Hampton house. 
In '62 he enlisted under Capt. H. A. Tinkham, in company C, 
thirty -eight Iowa volunteer infantry, which in '64 was consolidat- 
ed with the thirty -fourth regiment. He was mustered out of the 
service at Houston, Tex., and discharged at Davenport, Iowa; he 
returned to New Hampton in '66, and built the Central house for 
David Pepper. In the same year he purchased the property of D. 
Shook, and opened a grocery and restaurant. In '71 he purchas- 
ed the southwest quarter of section 28, in Jacksonville township, 
of Daniel Young, where he now resides, doing a farm and stock 
business. The children of Mr. and Mrs. J. are Sarah A., Robert 
S., Alonzo W., James A., William L., Purlie L.,Mary E. and Sam- 
uel Edgar. 

R. H. Mills, farmer, section 21, P. O. New Hampton, was born 
in county Fermanagh, Ireland, in '34. In 1855 he came to the 
United States, and settling in Chickasaw county, in company with 
his brother, entered 160 acres of government land. In '61 he en- 
listed in company B, seventh Iowa volunteer infantry, at New 
Hampton, and served two years and two months, being discharged 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 543 

in '64, at Nashville, Tenn. After the war he returned to Chickasaw 
■county, and has continued farming ever since, and has interested 
himself in raising fine horses, having on his farm nine head, among 
which are half-blood English draft and Morgans, Mr. Mills was 
married in '67, in this county, to Emma E. Davis, their children 
are, J.Erwin, Lewis E., Maude, John D., May, Hattie and Willie. 

Joseph Sewell, farmer, section 15, P. O.Jacksonville, owns 174 
acres, was born in Boone county. 111., in 1840, and was raised on 
a farm. On August 13, 1862, he enlisted in that county, in com- 
pany K, ninety -fifth Illinois volunteer infantry, and serving three 
years, was mustered out and discharged at Springfield, 111., in '65. 
He returned to Boone county, where he remained until the spring 
of '67, when he removed to this state, settling in this township. In 
the spring of '74 he purchased the land he now owns and which he 
has brought to a high state of cultivation. He was married in '66, 
in Illinois, to- Levancha Smith, and they have three children living, 
William I., Fred B. and Myrtie, one child, Elizabeth, died March 
13, '76, aged eleven months. 

T. E. Mills, farmer, section 22, P. O. New Hampton; was born 
in '41, in county Fermanagh, Ireland, learned the trade of brick 
mason and that also of ship builder. He came to the United 
States, in '57, and settled first in Carroll county, 111., where he re- 
sided two years, then moved to Jackson county, Iowa, where he 
lived two years, engaging in farming. From there he came to 
Chickasaw county. In the fall of '62 he enlisted in company C, 
thirty-eighth Iowa infantry, and served three years; was discharg- 
ed August, '65, at Houston, Texas. After returning he purchased 
the eighty acres of land that he now owns. The raising of fine 
horses he makes a specialty and has some excellent specimens of 
the Morgan and Lexington breeds. Mr, M. has filled the office of 
justice of the peace for three years. He was married in '78 at 
Jacksonville, to Ellen L. McGoon, and they have six children, 
Viola J., Emma J., Edna, Guy, Bertie and Clyde. 

Francis Dane, farmer, section 35, P. 0. Jacksonville, owns 760 
acres; was born in Derby, Orleans, county, Vermont, in 1828; he 
received a common school education, and resided there until twen- 
ty-seven years of age, and in the meanwhile had learned the car- 
penter trade. In the winter of '53 he was married to Jane Crane, 



644 • CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES, 

« 

of the same place, and in the following winter he came to Iowa, to 
select a home, he selected a claim where he now resides, and en- 
tered it at the land office in Dubuque, then went to work cutting 
logs,and prepared for building,he returned to Vermont, and in the 
spring of '55 he returned with his young wife, leaving all the com- 
forts of the east to battle with life on the frontier; there were only- 
two other settlers on the east side of Crane creek, where he locat- 
ed. They moved into their log house before windows "or doors 
were put in, and they experienced many hardships, but also re- 
late many amusing incidents of their experience. Their first team 
were oxen; after two years they had a team of horses, which they 
kept for many years, and were known all along the road to Mc- 
Gregor as Tom and Jerry. Good neighbors soon settled near, and 
for many years they enjoyed the society of eastern people, but the 
heavy Norwegian immigration set in and has taken their Jplace, 
and now Mr. Dane is about the only American in the neighbor- 
hood. The subject of this sketch has served on the board of su- 
pervisors for several years, and has always taken a lively interest 
in county affairs. He conducts the home farm of 400 acres, him- 
self; and has it well stocked, with a herd of over 100 head of cat- 
tle, fourteen head of horses, and uses four teams. The other land 
is rented. The fine residence is beautifully located on section 35, 
in a pleasant grove which affords a splendid protectton from the 
winds; fine orchards and gardens, add to the pleasure of the 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Dane have two children, Harry Hinman 
and Lydia Elizabeth. 

Dennis Collins, farmer, section 6, Jacksonville township, P. 0. 
New Hampton, was born in Franklin county, N. Y., in 1838; in 
his childhood his parents moved to Dubuque county, Iowa,where 
they resided several years. The subject of this sketch moved , to 
Clayton county, living there a short time, and then moving ,,to 
Winnesheik county, and finally came to this county and purchas- 
ed the 134 acres of land on which he now resides, which is thor- 
oughly improved and well fitted for all farming purposes. , g^Was 
married in December, '66, at Howard county, Iowa, to ^Margaret 
Fitzgerald, and has seven children, John, Nellie, Loretta, Dionetius 
William, Mary and George. 

Christian Kirschinamu, farmer, section 34, P. 0. Jacksonville, is 
a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, he came to the United States 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 545 

in 1854, and settled in Utica township, in this county, he purchas- 
ed eighty acres of land,on the Little Turkey, in Utica township, at 
government price, and remained there about twelve years, then 
sold out and purchased the 100 acres he now owns. Was mar- 
ried in Germany, in '52, to Charlotte Weaver, and their children 
are Sophia, Barbara, Bettie, Charlotte, Mary, Lizzie, Chris. Jr., 
John and William. 

Andrew A. Gordon, farmer, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 160 acres, 
was born in Norway in 1827, and was a laborer by occupation. He 
came to America in 1859, and settled in Dane count}^. Wis., and 
purchased land there and remained until about '67, whe i he came 
to Iowa, and settled in this county purchasing the land now owned 
by him, which is now thoroughly improved. He was married in 
'55, to Carrie Jensen, and their children are Carrie A. and John A. 

William Barrett, farmer, section 34, P. 0. Jacksonville, was born 
in 1825, in county Cork, Ireland. In '50 he came to uhe United 
States, and lived in Maine four years, and learned the printer's 
trade. In '54 he came to Iowa, and took up a claim of 120 acres 
where he now resides, being one of the pioneers. He was married 
in '54, at Old Mission, Winnesheik county, Iowa, to Jane Scanlan 
and their children are, Edward, Kate, Mary, John and Charles. 



546 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



STAPLETON TOWNSHIP. 



E. W. Davis, farmer, owns over 800 acres of land in this coun- 
ty; was born in Suffolk county, N. Y., in 1828. His parents 
moved in his early childhood to Ohio, where he remained eighteen 
years, then went to Wisconsin and remained five years, engaging 
in teaching school and farming. In '55 he came to this county 
and entered a large tract of land (about 2,000 acres) from the gov- 
ernment, and did good business in improving, selecting claims 
and locating for others; was also county surveyor several years. 
Was a member of the county board of supervisors from Stapleton 
township in '61, which was the first board elected in the county. 
He has been a successful farmer and business man, having started 
with very limited capital. The magnificent residence on the home 
is the finest farm house in the county, and his barns and other 
improvements correspond. The homestead is fitted up as a stock 
and dairy farm; using the milk of twenty-five cows for the latter. 
The cattle are of a high grade, and his horses about half-blood 
Normans. From two to four men are employed on the farm dur- 
ing the year. Was married in December, '56, at Lake county, 
Ohio, to Caroline Randall, and their children are John J., Carrie 



CHICCASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 547 

M., Jennie G. and Nellie E.; all born on this farm. J. J. is a cit 
zen of North Washington township ; Carrie M. is a graduate of 
the Osage Seminary, graduating in '79. The younger girls also 
attend the same school. Mr. D. is a staunch Kepublican in poli- 
tics. 

P. H. Kennedy, blacksmith and dealer in agricultural imple- 
ments, Lawler, Iowa, was born Roscommon county, Ireland, in '47, 
and came to the United States, when but one year old, with an aunt, 
his father and mother having sailed for this country some little 
time previous. The family settled in the state of New Jersey, and 
remained there for about ten years, when they emigrated to the 
great west, locating in Chickasaw county, where they have since 
remained. In 1864, the subject of this notice, commenced to learn 
the trade of a blacksmith, at Decorah, with Greer and Thomas, 
with whom he remained two years and a half, leaving them, to work 
for Mr. Marsh, where he stayed until '72, when he set up a forge 
for himself at Forest City, but only remained there about a year, 
when he moved with his family to Lawler, where he has made a 
residence ever since. He was married in '72, to Mrs. Mary T. Smith, 
a native of Penny Ivania, who had a daughter by a former . marri- 
age, but who has since been adopted by Mr. Kennedy, her name 
is Anna May. Mr. K, has considerable political importance, hav- 
ing been a member of the council of the town of Lawler. 

William Lawrence, harness maker, Lawler, was born in the state 
of Maryland, in the year 1845, and is the second son of Alexander 
and Mary Lawrence. When he was but one year old his parents 
emigrated to the west, stopping on their way, for one year, in the 
state of Ohio, and then moving on with all their belongings, to the 
state of Iowa. Locating, temporaily, in Clayton county, they after 
a short stay of one year, removed from thence to Old Mission, Winne- 
sheik county, but after a residence of three years in that place, re- 
moved to Fayette county. After three years spent in that local- 
ity, they moved to Jackson township, Winnesheik county, where 
they still reside. When Mr Lawrence was twenty years of age, he 
commenced to learn his trade of harness making, at Decorah, and 
after thoroughly mastering it, opened a place of business for him- 
self, at Waucoma. In 1869, seeing a fine opening in the new town 
of Lawler, he availed himself of it, and has since prospered as he 
deserved. He was, in '68, united in marriage to Pauline Woodruff, 



548 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. • 

a native of Michigan, and they have three children, M. L., Ellen 
and Cory. Mr. L. has been largely identified with the interests 
of Lawler, having been elected Mayor twice, and has been a mem- 
ber of the town council several times, and treasurer of the school 
board. 

R. F. Hedrick, station agent C. M. and St. P. R.R., Lawler, was 
born in Ogle county, 111., May 12, 1845, and was the second son of 
Alexander and Anna Hedrick. In 1863, he enlisted, as a private 
in the fourth Illinois Cavalry regiment. The greater portion of 
his time while identified with the army of the Mississippi, he was 
on detached service, at Natchez, Miss., but accompanied Genl. Grier- 
son on his raid from Memphis to Vicksburg, receiving a wound in 
the right leg, while making a charge at the battle of Egypt, Miss., 
and was mustered out of the service, at Memphis, Tenn, February, 

1865. Returning to Illinois, he made that state his home until 

1866, when he removed to Mason City, this state, where he was en- 
gaged in the express and transfer business. In 1875, commenced 
working for the railroad company, as baggage-master and clerk at 
Mason City. Took the agency of the railroad and U. S. Express, 
at Lawler, December 4, 1876, where he has since resided. He was 
married in 1868, to Jennie D. Lawson, of Ogle county, 111., and 
they have four children, Frank R., Amy J. Hugh D. and has been 
a member of the town council and president of the school board. 

Anthony A. Bollinger, P. 0. and residence Lawler, was born in 
1844, in the state of Indiana, and is the eldest son of Henry and 
Elizabeth Bollinger, When he was about five years of age he left 
Indiana, with his parents, going to Cincinnatti, Ohio, where they 
remained two years. From thence they all removed West, settling 
at Twin Springs, Winnesheik county, in this state. Here he re- 
mained until he was about nineteen years old, when he spent two 
years traveling through the eastern states, coming back, however, 
to this western world, locating at Ossian, Iowa, where he remained 
some three years, removing from thence to Lawler, where he has 
continuod to reside since. In 1866, he was united in marriage 
with Mary J. Hanlon, a native of Penna. They have six children, 
Mary E., Henry J., William D., John A. and Anna M. Mr. Boll- 
inger is interested in real estate, and has, at different times, been 
extensively engaged in the patent right business. 

E. H. Blackett, merchant, Lawler, one of the rising young men 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIP:S. 549 

of northeastern Iowa; was born in the city of New York, Decem- 
ber 28, 1854, being the eldest son of H. S. and Mary J. Blackett. 
His parents moved west in '59, and located at Baraboo, Sauk coun- 
ty, Wis., residing there some six years. The subject of our 
sketch received excellent advantages in early schooling, at the 
then well known and popular Baraboo collegiate institute. Early 
in '66 Mr. H. S. Blackett moved his family to Iowa, locating at 
Clermont, in Fayette county. Young E. H. being placed at once 
in a private academy, under Prof. T. S. Wood. There he lived 
until '70, when his father removed to Lawler. It was in this 
f'lace E. H. Blackett commenced that practical training so marked 
at the present time, his father taking him in as clerk in his gene- 
ral merchandise store. For twelve years he remained with his 
— being a mere lad of fifteen at the commencement — with but a 
crude knowledge of business. But terminating the connection 
with his father during the winter of 1881-2, at the age of twenty- 
seven, with an experience and capacity that might be fitting to a 
much older head, as buyer, salesman and general business mana- 
ger. Mr. Blackett 's intentions were to go west; to enter into trade 
in one of the thousand new homes; but after some sensible thought 
in that direction, wisely concluded that Lawler was as good, if not 
a better place, for him to continue business, so early in February, 
'82, he founded the Lawler cash house. His trade has grown with 
wonderful rapidity, and although still in its infancy, his store is 
regarded as headquarters for his four grand si^ecialties: clothing, 
foot-gear, head-wear and staple and fancy groceries. Mr. B. was 
married in his twenty -sixth year, to Lena Drebelow, and has two 
children, Wilhe H. and Mary Estelle. 

Michael Martin, dealer in groceries and provisions; Lawler, lowa^ 
was born in Ireland, in 1829, and is the eldest son of Edward and 
Catherine Martin. When he was twenty -two years of age, in '51 
he emigrated to America, locating for three or four years at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, removing from thence he came to this state, settling in 
Clayton county, in 1855. Here he remained until 1873, when he 
removed to Lawl-^r, engaging in the grocery and prowsion trade 
and has remained there ever since. Notwithstanding his loss by the 
firas, that have devastated the town, he is considered, by all, to be 
financially sound. He was married in 1858, to Bridget Boughana, 
a native also of the "Emerald isle" and they have six children, 



« 



550 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Katie, Edward, Lizzie, Mary A., Joseph and John. Mr. Martin 
has been identified with the educational system of his adopted 
home, having been a member of the school board, and is one of 
Lawler's most influential citizens. 

James Curran, merchant, Lawler, was born in Jackson county, 
Iowa, in the year 1856, and is the only son of Patrick and Cather- 
ine Curran. When about nineteen years of age, he removed to In- 
dependence and remaining there but eighteen months, came to 
Lawler, in 1877, and engaged in the mercantile trade. Mr. C. has 
been one of the sufferers by the conflagration that desolated that 
charming town, in '81, but has since recovered his losses, and is 
one of the most respected citizens of Lawler. 

John McNevin, residence and P. 0. Lawler, was born in Penn- 
sylvania, in 1844, and is the third son of James and Ann McNevin, 
who came to America from Ireland, in '34; when John was four 
years of age his parents came west and settled in Burlington, this 
state, and remained there five years, and from that place moved 
to Houston county, Minn., where they resided until '64, when his 
father died. Mr. McNevin then moved to Louisiana, then to Ar- 
kansas, and spent the winter of '65, at Red Forks. The following 
spring he started for the mines of of Montana, where he stayed 
two years. He crossed the Rocky mountains into Utah, and re- 
mained seven months, and removed from thence to Chicago, 111., 
and thence went to Decorah, and engaged in buying grain. Also 
spent one year in Fayette, Fayette county, where he kept a gene- 
ral stock of merchandise. In '78 he came to Lawler and has been 
■ a resident of this place since. Was married in '70 to Mary A. 
Lannon, a native of Dubuque. He was elected mayor of Lawler 
in March, '83. 

A. iS. Frink was born in Washington county, Vt., in 1858 and is 
the eldest son of S. G. and H. A. Frink. Coming to Iowa in '64, 
and settled at McGregor, and in '67 removed to a farm in Allama- 
kee county, where he remained until '70, when he removed to Kos- 
suth county. At the end of one year he returned to McGregor, 
attended school there and graduated from the high school at that 
place in the class of '76. He at once entered the employ of W. and 
J. Flemming, lumber dealers. After filling with credit several 
subordinate positions he was, in '78, placed in charge of their 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 551 

branch yard at Lawler. Was married in '81 to Miss M. A. Taylor 
a resident of Stapleton township, and has one son, Arthur H., 
born April 7, '82. Mr. F. was elected recorder in March, '82, and 
re-elected in March, '83. 

A. P. Johnson, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, was 
born in Sweden in 1849, and came to America at the age of twenty 
one, and stopped temporarily in Will county, 111., from there he 
removed to Lansing, this state. After a brief stay he moved to 
Fort Dodge, where he remained two years; from there he went to 
Dubuque and remained four years. Then removed to Lawler, and 
has since resided there. Was married in '75, to Wilhelmina E. 
Bechtel, a native of Iowa, and they have two children, Henry 
Oscar Adolph and Leander August. 

W. E. Wisner, proprietor of the American hotel, Lawler, was 
born in the state of Illinois, in the year 1841, and is the third son 
of Stephen D. and Anna S. Wisner. He lived with his parents in 
Lake county, 111., until '61, although not born in that county, 
having been taKen there when but one year old. He enlisted in 
'61, in the fifty-second Illinois infantry regiment of volunteers, 
commanded by Lieut. Col. Wilcox, and §pent the winter of '61-2 
in Missouri. Col. T. W. Sweeny then and there taking command 
of the regiment, holding the same for some eight months. Mr. 
W. participated with his regiment in that "baptism of tire," at Ft. 
Donelson, and after the engagement was detailed to guard prison- 
ers, until, he rejoined his regiment for the expedition up the Ten- 
nessee river,and took part in the battle of Shiloh; and the advance 
to the seige of Corinth, spending some time in Tennessee. In the 
spring of '64 he was at the seige of Atlanta, and after the fall of 
that place, was among those heroes ordered to Rome, Ga., and 
after Hood had concentrated his forces, helped repell the invader, 
at Allatona pass. Was with Sherman on his memorable march to 
the sea and was honorably discharged at Chicago in '65, with the 
rank of sergent. After his mustering out of the United States 
service, he went to Ohio, and remained there seven years, going 

from thence to Crawford county, 1.1, where he made another stay 

often years. Removing from thence to St. Louis he remained in 

that city but about one year, when he visited the old homestead, 

and other parts of Illinois. In '82, he came to Iowa, and on the 



552 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

20th day of August, of that year, took possession of the American 
hotel, where he remains, the ever genial host, ready to attend to 
the wants of his numerous patrons. Mr. W. has two children 
Anna May and Roy E., the latter one of the brightest boys in the 
vicinity. 

H. J. Ditmars, proprietor of the Lawler livery and feed stable, 
was born in the state of New York in 1848, and is the only son of 
J. V, and C. R. Ditmars. When he was nine years of age, he with 
his parents removed to Ft. Atkinson, Winnesheik county, and 
lived there till '78, when he removed to Lawler, and has been a 
resident of that place ever since. Mr. D. commenced farming 
when he was eighteen years of age and farmed for six years, but 
in 72 want into the livery business at Ft. Atkinson, and has con- 
tinued in that business ever since. Was married in '70 to Mary 
J. Lawrence, a native of New York state, and had two children, 
Ada M. and H. J. Jr., both of which have died. Mr. D. lost his 
wife in '74, but was married the second time in '77, to M. A. Neas, 
a native of Michigan, they have one child, a daughter, Mary. Mr. 
D. has held the offices of constable and school director several 
terms. • 

Christopher Springer, boot and shoe maker, Ijawler. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Germany in 1835, and is the sec- 
ond son of George and Anna Springer. When he was eighteen 
years old he immigrated to America and located in the city of 
New York, where he remained about two years and a half, re- 
moving from thence to Bellville, 111. Here he remained but a 
short time, about nine months, movin • to this state. He spent 
about seven years here working at his trade. About half of this 
time was spent at Adaville and Sheridan. Still feeling dissatis- 
fied he returned to the state of Illinois, where he stayed for five 
years. He then removed to Prairie du Chien where he remained 
until '71, when he immigrated to Lawler, where he has since re- 
sided, being identified with the town in a mercantile and official 

capacity, having been a member of the town council some four 
years, and of the school board three years. He was married in '59 
to Rosan Konance, a native of Germany, and they have eight chil- 
dren, Amanda, Kate, Anthony, Mary, George, William, Christo- 
pher and Joseph. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 553 

John Fitzsimmons, Lawler, was born in Ireland, in the year 
1834, and is the eldest son of James and Bridget Fitzsimmons. In 
company with his parents he immigrated to the United States in 
'47, and settled in Jo Daviess county. 111., where he stayed but two 
years, removing from thence to Clermont, Fayette county. Here 
he remained until '71, being engaged in farming, a business in 
which he merited and met with great success. In the latter year 
he removed to Lawler and engaged, along with his partner, Mr. M. 
Martin, in the grocery and provision business. Here he has re- 
t mained ever since, and is at present carrying a full line of drugs, 
medicine, etc. Was married to Eliza Boughen, a native of Ireland 
in the year '60, and has, as the fruits of the union, six children, 
Melda A.,Estella, Edward A., Ida,Georgena T. and^John W. While 
residing in Fayette county Mr. F. held the office of justice of the 
peace for several years. 

P. T. Kennedy, farmer, owns 155 acres of land in Stapleton 
township, which is valued at S40 per acre. He was born in Ire- 
land in 1840, and is the eldest son of Stephen and Margaret Ken- 
nedy, who immigrated to America when the subject of this feketch 
was but two years old. They first settled in the state of New 
Jersey, where they remained some eight years. In '56 he remov- 
ed with his parents to Chickasaw county, where he has since con- 
tinued to reside. In '67 he was united in the holy bonds of mat- 
rimony to Lettie Streeter, a native of the state of New York, and 
they have a family of four children, Matilda, Mary E., Patrick 
and Martha A. Mr. K. is at presant a member of the school 
board. 

D. S. Lovejoy, druggist, Lawler, Chickasaw county, Iowa, was 
born in 1842. 

J. Z. Gardiner, farmer, P. 0. Lawler, owns eighty acres of land 
which is valued at $25 per acre. The subject of this sketch was 
born in the dominion of Canada, in the year 1849, and is the third 
son of John and Jane Gardiner. Leaving his native place when 
but sixteen yearS'^^f age he located in Delaware county, this state, 
where he remained until '75, when he removed to Chickasaw 
county, where he has resided ever since In '70 he was united in 



554 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



marriage to Mary J. Ede, also a native of Canada, and they have 
been blessed with two children. Albertie M. and Pearl S. Mrs. G. 
has been since childhood, a prominent member of the Methodist, 
Episcopal church, and is a consistent follower of that faith. Mr. 
G. has quite a local reputation as a teacher of the art or science of 
singing, and has been very successful in the culture of the voices 
of his many pupils. 

John L. Shepherd, M. D., P. 0. and residence Lawler, Chicka- 
saw county, Iowa. 







CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 655 



CHICKASAW TOWNSHIP. 



Earl G. Miller, farmer, section 18, owns eighty acres of land, 
about forty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Miller was 
born Delaware county, N. Y., in 1816, and in '55 he came west 
and located On his present place, in Chickasaw county, where he 
has since been engaged in farming. He has served as school di- 
rector ten years or more, and is a promoter of education in every 
way, and has given his family the best of educational advantages, 
and the result is that five members of the household are now en- 
gaged in "teaching the young idea how to shoot;" something 
which perhaps could not be said of another citizen in the county. 
In politics Mr. Miller figures with the democratic party. He was 
united in matrimony to Jane Hawley, a native of New Ydrk state, 
and the result of that union is a family of eleven children, Mary 
E., E. G. Jr., Isaac L., Martha, Theda A., Emma, Putnam G., Pol- 
ly, Edith, Seth H., Elsie (deceased) and Burton. E. G. Jr., serv- 
ed in the army in the thirty-eighth Iowa infantry, aad was hon- 
orably discharged at the expiration of his term. 

Andrew J. Bray, farmer, section 20, owns forty acres ; was born 
in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1844, and in '56 he came west with 



556 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

his parents to the "land of the free," and located in Deerfield 
township, in Chickasaw county, where he remained some time 
when he moved to the above place in Chickasaw township. He 
served his country during the great rebellion for four long years, 
two years as a veteran, and the remainder of the time in company 
H, 4th Iowa cavalry, and was honorably discharged at Atlanta, Ga., 
and mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. He was united in mar- 
riage to Hannah Miller, a native of this county, and they have 
five children, Mary, Clarence, Guy, Charley and Dee. 

J. L. Frazee, farmer, section 5, owns 250 acres valued at $25 per 
acre; was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., September 13,1808. 
He removed to Perry county, Ohio, where he resided for a term of 
years, thence moved to Clinton county, Ind. In '51 he removed 
to the "Hawkeye state" and ou the 27th of October, '52 he located 
in Chickasaw county on his present place of residence, which is a 
finely cultivated and improved farm, situated about three-quarters 
of a mile north of the village of Bassett. He is one of the pio- 
neers of this section, and at the time of his settlement in this coun- 
ty, his nearest grain market was McGregor, where a trip with his 
oxen would occupy from six to fourteen days time. Tn politics he 
takes no active part, and, although having been honored several 
times by the election to different offices, he always failed to quali- 
fy for the positions. On the 26th of March, '82 he was united in 
marriage to Susanna Harris, a native of Ohio, and they have four 
children, two sons and two daughters — Benjamin, John, Nancy 
J. and Elizabeth. 

J. H. Van Tassel, farmer, owns 140 acres of improved land in 
sections 21 and 16, in Chickasaw township. He was born in the 
state of New York in 1833, where he received his early education. 
In '55 he came to the boundless prairies of the west to build him 
a home, and settled in North Washington township, where he re- 
mained until '68, when he removed to Chickasaw township, and 
engaged in the lumber traffic, for four years, when he entered the 
mercantile business for a period of five years, after which he en- 
gaged in farming. His farm is under a fine state of cultivation 
and Mr. V. is one of the exemplary farmers of this section. He has 
served as county supervisor two terms, and also as justice of the 
peace and town clerk, and is now (1883) present incumbent of the 
latter office. He married Mary Clark, a native of New York, and 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 557 

they have two children living, Sidney C. and Leon Ray. They 
also have an adopted daughter named Ettie Dickinson, and have 
buried one son — Rollin. 

Forbes Brothers, managers Chickasaw flouring mill. The mill 
is one of the best in the northwest, having five run of buhrs and 
three sets of rollers, with a capacity of one hundred barrels every 
twenty-four hours. William Forbes was born in Canada, in 1855. 
He came to Chickasaw county, with his parents, in '56, and has 
lived here continuously since that time. He learned the milling 
trade with his father, who is owner of the mill and is a practical 
miller. In 1881, he, in company with his brother, J< C, took en- 
tire charge and they have run it since that time under the above 
name and style. Mr. Forbes has held the office of town clerk and 
executed the duties of the same creditably to himself and friends. 
He married Ruany C. Butler, of the Empire state, and they have 
three children, namely: Helen M., Meda and Archie. 

J. F. Cunningham, postmaster and notary public, Ionia. Also 
carries a full and complete line of groceries, canned goods, flour, 
drugs, etc., and also a well established collection agency. Mr. Cun- 
ningham was born near Galena, 111., in 1845. In '53, he moved to 
the Hawkeye state with his parents, and located in Chickasaw 
county, where he followed farming until embarked in the mercan- 
tile trade. In '73 he was appointed deputy postmaster, and dur- 
ing Hayes' administration he was appointed postmaster and is the 
present incumbent. He has served his town in the capacity of 
school director and justice of the peace, and is a member of the 
masonic fraternity. He was united in marriage with Lottie L. 
Walker, a native of New York state. They have two children, 
Maud and Madge. 

J. M. Kruger, manufacturer of carriages, wagons, buggies, etc., 
established business in 1870. Was born in Prussia in 1845, and 
came to America in '64, and located in Princeton, Wis., he then re 
moved to Minnesota where he resided one and one-half years, and 
then removed to (Chickasaw county, and engaged in the above 
business. Mr. K. is a thorough mechanic, having served his time 
at the business in the old country. In politics he is independent 
in his views, always desirous of voting for the best men, regard- 
less of party lines. He is a member of the Lutheran church. 



558 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Was married to Wilhelmina Manthey, a native of Germany. They 
have four children, Walter, Raenhard, Anna and Dora. 

James Cunningham, farmer, Ionia owns eighty acres in section 
15, valued at $22 per acre. Mr. Cunningham was born Delaware 
county, Ohio, in 1820, In '40 he removed to Illinois and located 
near Galena, where he remained many years, when he removed to 
Chickasaw county, where he engaged in farming, and has followed 
that line of business ever since. He is one of the pioneers of the 
county, and it is owing to the unceasing endeavors of such men as 
Mr. Cunningham that Chickasaw township stands in its present 
prosperous condition. In politics he holds with the Republican 
party, and has filled the office of township trustee for the past ten 
years, and performed the functions of the same in a highly credit- 
able manner. Was united in marriage to Jane Locker, a native of 
Ohio, and they have three children, J. F., Olive F. and Maurice F. 

Loren C. Hance, proprietor, restaurant and billiard hall, Ionia, 
established business September. 1882. He was born in Illinois in 
1848. Came we^st with his parents, in '57, and located in Chicka- 
saw county. He has been elected to the office of constable, for the. 
last ten years. He was married to Cynthja C. Lowe, of Illinois, 
and they have five children, Emma J., Josie, Lillian M., Willie E. 
and Stella F. . . 

M. F. Lighthall, farmer, section 9, P. O. Bassett, owns 248 acres. 
The subject ot this sketch is a native of Wisconsin, wnere he was 
born, in 1847. In '54 he came west with his parents and located 
in Chickasaw county. His farm is well improved and under a fine 
state of cultivation. Mr. L. has held different town offices and is, 
at present, postmaster at Bassett, although he takes no active part 
in politics yet he is always desirous of seeing the cause of repub- 
licanism promoted. He was married to M. J. Short, a native of 
Indiana, and they h,ave a family of three children, Frances, Meda 
and Howard. 

G. D. Warren, dealer in general merchandise, Bassett, carries a 
fine and well assorted stock of goods. Business established by 
himself and father in October, '71, which was the first store build- 
ing in the place. Mr. Warren was born in Pennsylvania in '47. 
In March, '57 he came west with his parents, and located in Chick- 
asaw county, where he was engaged in farming some years. When 
the great civil war broke out Mr. Warren went forth to battle for 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 559 

his country, and served nearly three years in company H, fourth 
Iowa cavah-y, and company L, second Iowa cavalry, and was 
twice honorably discharged. The first time at Memphis, Tenn., 
and the second time at Davenport, Iowa. Was united in marriage 
to Henrietta Farr, a native of New York state, and they have one 
child — Marion. 

G. A. J. Burch, farmer, section 20. owns fifty acres of land; was 
born in Indiana, in '36, and came west in '49 and located in Mar 
shall county, Illinoia, thence removed to Cedar county, Iowa, and 
after a few years to Fayette county, and in '65 to Chickasaw coun- 
ty, and located on the above place in '69. In politics he figures 
with the democratic party. He is a member of the masonic fra- 
ternity, and was married to Eliza Garrett, a native of Illinois, and 
they have five children, Austin, Davis, Amanda, Frank and Cora, 
and have lost one child. 

Martin- Winter, farmer, section 1, owns 110 acres; was born in 
Bavaria, November 3, '36. In '55 he came to America, and locat- 
ed in Rock county. Wis.. In '60 he moved to Iowa, and located 
in Chickasaw county. He has served as road supervisor, and is at 
present (1883) school director. He married Mary J. Witzel, who 
is of French descent, but was born in Iowa. Thev have four chil- 
dren, Edwin, Alvin, Andrew and Minnie. Mr. W. • is a democrat 
in politics. 

N. B. Pike, proprietor, of the Ionia house, Ionia, Iowa, was born 
in the east in '58, and came with his parents to Wisconsin where 
he remained some time, then moved to Iowa,and located in Chick- 
asaw county. He married May Cooley, a native of this state, and 
they have one daughter. Belle. 

George Patrick, was born in the state of New York, 1818, and in 
'56 he came west and located in Howard county, shortly after- 
ward he removed to Chickasaw county, where he engaged in farm- 
ing and blacksmithing in Deerfield township. He opened a farm 
in Afton township after assisting in organizing that town, also as- 
sisted in forming school districts, laying out roads, etc., and built 
the first bridge ever erected in the township. Mr. T. has serve 1 
« as township trustee and school director. He served in the army 
as farrier and blacksmith in company H, fourth Iowa cavalry. 
Was married to Louisa Shaw, a native of New York state, and 



560 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

they have eight children living, six daughters and two sons, Geo. 
H., Almeron, Sarah, Mary E., Persis E., Louisa 0., Arabelle 
M. and Lillian B. They have lost four by death, two sons and 
two daughters. One son died while in the army. A notice of the 
same clipped from the New Hampton Courier says: "Died in the 
military hospital at Strasburg, Va., on the 25th of May, '62, of ty- 
phoid fever, Marcellus Patrick, eldest son of George and Louisa 
Patrick, of Deerfield township, in this county, aged twenty years, 
seven months and seven days." A second son also served in the 
army and was honorably discharged at the close of the war at Dav- 
enport. 

Daniel Kepple, merchant and postmaster of Chickasaw, was 
born in Pennsylvania, in 182L After reaching a suitable age he 
learned the trade of tinsmith, which he followed for some time, 
but as "westward the course of the empire takes its way," Mr. K., 
in the fall of '55 took up the march and came west and located 
in Chickasaw county, where he followed his previous occupation. 
The following year he engaged in farming, which he carried on suc- 
cessfully for some time. In 1879 he embarked in the mercantile 
business, in his present quarters, and carries a complete stock of 
dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. Mr. Keppler was the first 
postmaster in Washington township, also the first constable in 
that town. He has also been a member of the county board of 
supervisors, and officer on the school board for many years. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Byers, a native of Pennsylvania. They 
have five children, Albert H., .John W., Presley L., Clarence F. 
and Walter E. They have lost two children by death, Austin L. 
and Dock. 

R. VanKleck, is a native of the state of New York, where he was 
born in 1831, and received his education and learned his trade of 
millwright. Inl855, he took Horace Greeley's advice and came 
west, locating in Chickasaw county, where, since that time, he has. 
been employed as a mechanic. Mr. V. is one of the early settlers 
of this township, and has always lent a willing hand to further or 
promote the general welfare of his town. In 1853, he was united 
in marriage to Mary E. Davis, a native of New York state: They 
have a family of six children, three sons and three daughters,, 

named, Agnes, Emma C, G. R., Oliver, Charles and Minnie. 



CHlCf ASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 561 

L. E. Fritcher, farmer, section 36, was born in the state of New- 
York, in 1848. He came west in June '57, and located in Brad- 
ford township, this county. In 1870 he moved into Chickasaw 
township, and located as above. Mr. Fritcher is one of the many- 
successful farmers, in this township, and has his farm under fine 
cultivation. He has been twice elected school director, and has 
also served as road supervisor. He was married to Helen Smith, 
a native of Wisconsin, who died April 9, 1883. He has a family 
of four children, whose names are, David W., Norman L.,LydiaE. 
and Lottie A. 

C. E. Tyler, owner of dray line, Ionia, Iowa, was born in Rens- 
selaer county, N. Y., in 1829, and came west in '41, and located in 
Porter county, Ind. He next removed to California, where he re- 
mained some time, and in '59 he located in Chickasaw county, 
where he has up to this time been a resident. In '62 he went 
forth to do battle for his country, in company C, thirty-eighth 
Iowa infantry, which was afterwards consolidated with company 
G, thirty-fourth Iowa infantry. He received the appointment of 
corporal, and served in that capacity one year, when he was ap- 
pointed sergeant, which position he occupied two years. He was 
honorably discharged at Houston, Texas, and mustered out at 
Davenport, Iowa. He is a republican in politics and has held the 
position of town clerk. In 1860 he was united in marriage to 
Orisa E. Bard well, a native of Pennsylvania, and their children 
are Lydia E., Charles E. and Lenora M. 

Eldrett & Bishop, dealers in hardware, Ionia, Iowa; established 
business in '76. W. G. Eldrett was born in London, England, in 
the year 1816, and came to America in '36, and located in Sche- 
nectady county, N. Y., thence to Fulton county of that state,where 
he remained some time, when he removed to Montgomery county, 
Florida; from there he removed to Milwaukee county, Wis., where 
he engaged in farming for some years, and in '64 he removed to 
the great commonwealth of Iowa, and located at Fredricksburg, 
where he followed farming until be engaged in business as above. 
In politics he figures with the republican party, and is a member 
of the Baptist church. Was married to Charlotte McMasters, a 
native of New York, and has a family of two daughters, Sophia 
and Emma J. 



562 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Andrew Troutner, farmer, section 35, owns 200 acres of land; 
was born in Germany in 1811, and in '33 he embarked for Amer- 
ica, and on his arrival located in Pennsylvania, from there he re- 
moved to Indiana, and in '53 he again moved toward the setting 
sun, and established himself in Chickasaw county, and now has as 
fine a farm as is to be found in that section of the country. Was 
married to Elizabeth Smith, a native of Germany, and they have 
a tamily of eight children, John F., Andrew P., Henr}-, Peter, 
Martin L., Nancy J., Emmeline and Melinda. They have lost 
two children by death, one in Pennsylvania and one in Indiana. 
Their eldest son, John F., setved in the army in company B, third 
Iowa Infantry. 

Albert Kistow, farmer, section 25, owns 80 acres of land, valued 
at §20 per acre. He was born in Germany, in 1835. In 1868 he 
came to America, locating at Ionia, Chickasaw county, where he 
was engaged on the railroad for six yeai-s. In 77, he located on 
his present farm, which is under a high state of cultivation. In 
Politics, Mr. Ristow, figures with the democratic ]iarty, and is a 
member of the Lutheran church. He married Matilda Knyer, a 
native of Germany, but they have no family. Mr. Ristow served 
in the military service in his fatherland, for two yeare. 

Ira Warren, P. 0. Bassett, dealer in hardware, was born in New 
York state in 1817. He was brought up at the lumber business. 
He came west in '57 and located in Chickasaw county. In 1863 
he engaged in the hotel business at Chickasaw, but in '69 he went 
into the mercantile trade, at that point, and was also postmaster 
some tive years. In '71, he moved to Bassett and entered into trade 
in connection with his son, G. D. Warren. He married Esther 
Roff, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son; George D. 
and had a daughter, Elizabeth, who died in the month of October, 
1882 

C. H. Dillenbeck, merchant, Bassett, Chickasaw county; estab- 
lished business in 75. He is a native of the old empire state, 
where he was born in 1838, and in '56 he came west and located 
in Barry county, Michigan, and in '63 he moved to Iowa and lo- 
cated in Chickasaw county, where he was engaged in farming un- 
til he embarked in business as above. Mr. D. served as postmas- 
ter at Bassett for eight years, and is a member of the masonic fra- 
ternity. He served in the army in company D, third Michigan 



chi<;kahaw county uiooitAi-HiEB. 563 

infantry and waH honorably discharged at the ex[ii ration of his 
time of cnliHtrnent. Ho has been twice married, his first wife's 
maiden name was Mary A. Beach, by whom he has three children 
■Owen Iv., Inn and Lier. The second time he was united in mar- 
aiage to 1. i^elight Warner, of Wisconsin. 

William M. T'atterson, merchant, Ionia, cairies a well assorted 
and coniplete stock of gener.'j] merchandise, which business he es- 
tablished in the fall of 1873. He was born in 1844,at Salem, Penn- 
sylvania. In 18o7, he removed to Ohio, where he remained several 
years, and in '67 moved to this state, locating in Howard county, 
where he remained until 187'^, when he moved to Chickasaw 
county and embarked in the mercantile trade, as above. He was 
united in marriage with Lavinia Cowan, a native of Pennsylvrnia, 
and tlicy hav(; loui- children, Louis, Grace, May and Harry. 

G. K. Smith, dealer in general merchandise, iiassett, where he 
established business in November, '77. He is a son of the late 
Judge Smith of Milwaukee county, Wis., and was born in iVew 
York state; in 'H^l In '48 he came west with his parents and lo- 
cated in Milwaukee county, Wis. He learned the printing busi- 
ness in the Courier oflice at Prairie du Chien, Wis., and is a prac- 
tical workman in that art. He served in the army two years in 
company C, sixth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, and received the 
apj)ointment to the second lieutenancy in the forty -.eighth Wis- 
consin volunteer infantry. He was honorably discharged and 
mustered out at Fort [..eavenwortb, Kas. 

Julius Feuling, dealer in harness, saddles, whips, bridles, col- 
lars, and in fact all horse para]>hernalia kcjjt in a first-class shop. 
Mr. F. was born in Germany in 1840, and came to America and 
located in Walworth county. Wis., in '68. From there he went to 
Missouri, where he w is engaged for some time, thence to Kansas, 
and from the latter place he came to Chickasaw county, and es- 
tablished the above business in '71. Was married to Jjcne Zim- 
merman, a native of Germany, and they have six children, Liz- 
zie, Frank, John, Herman, Johanna and p]ugene. They are of the 
Catholic faith. 

Catherine Graves, widow of the late Albert Jane, who was born 
in the state of New York, and removed to Iowa, and located in 
Chickasaw county, near Bassett, was one of the pioneers of that 



564 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



section of the country. He died in August, '69, and his b ody was 
interred in Chickasaw ceilietery. He left a family of four children 
Emma, Fred, Bennie and Richard. Mrs. Jane was united in mar- 
riage a second time to Mr. Thaddeus Graves, a native of New York 
state, and they have one child, Chettie. 

Louis Schonfield, tarmer, section 36, was born in Germany in 
1830. He served in the military service in the fatherland, and 
came to this country in '69, locating in Dodge county, Wis. where 
he remained two years, when he removed to Chickasaw county, 
and locating in Dover, was engaged on the railroad for a time. 
After this he purchased his present farm. Mr. Schonfield has 
served as road supervisor but takes no great interest in politics. He 
has been married twice, the first time to Wilhelmina Schaedler, 
of Germany, and the fruits of that marriage are six children, living, 
William, Gustave, August, Caroline, Amy and Theodore; they also 
have lost six children by death. His second marriage was t* Mrs. 
Johanna Globke. 




^^iif'-^- 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 565. 



UTICA TOWNSHIP. 



Rev. John Moses, P. 0. Lawler, pastor of the Norwegian Evan- 
gelical Lutheran churches at Little Turke}'", in Utica township, 
and Crane Creek, in Jacksonville township; was born in Fiedrick- 
stad, Norway, in 1814, and received his education there and at 
Christiana. He followed a seafaring life for some time, and came 
to America in 1865, and entered the German Lutheran Seminary, 
at St. Louis Mo., where he remained three years and graduating 
entered the ministry. His first charge was at Norway Lake, Minn, 
having under his charge, seven counties adjacent. Here he re- 
mained fifteen months and in December, 1869, came to thi.s place 
to take charge of the churches here, Crane Creek, Cresco, Orleans 
and six other points, in Kossuth and Emmet counties. Since 
1879, he has only had charge of this and Crane Creek churches. 
He resides on section 20, near the church, on 20 acres of land be- 
longing to the church and on which the parsonage is erected. The 
church was built in 1876, and is a frame structure 4()xC)0 feet, with 
a chancel 16x18 feet, with a seating capacity of 370. It is well and 
comfortably furnished, and cost $4,000. Services every second 
Sunday. Mr. M. was married December 15, 1879, at Paint Creek, 



566 CHfOKASAW COUNTY HrOGRAPHIES. 

Allamakee county Iowa, to Christine Storla, and they have two 
children, Annie M. and Olaf Storla. 

William Everinghatu, farmer, section 21. P. O. Lawler, owns 175 
acres of land. Was i)i)rn in 1823, at Chipj)ewa, Canada,. When 
he was sixteen years, of age, his parents moved to Stephenson 
county, 111. where he was engaged in farming for seven years, and 
in 184G, he came to Iowa, then a territory, settling in Dubuque 
county. In the s|)ring t)f 1854, he came to Chickasaw county and 
located in this township entering his land from the government, 
the farm he now resides upon being the identical land. On Aug. 
12, 1861, he enlisted i\t this place, in company I, Ninth Iowa in- 
fantry, under Captain J. H. Po\yers, serving onl}' fourteen months, 
l)articipating in the engagements at Nubbin Ridge and Pea Ridge, 
.and being ilisable I by exposure, at the latter place, he was dis- 
'Charged, Octoixn- 12, 1862, and is now a' pensioner of the govern- 
ment. He returned to his home, and has since been engaged in 
agricultural jHirsuits. He was married at Freeport, 111., October 
1844, to Elizabeth Sprouls, by whom he has nine children, living, 
Janies, Mary Jane, John, Sarah E., Jacob, William, Margaret E. 
Martha C, Andrew L., Martin A., Clara Amanda, Minnie Caroline, 
and Doc Tiiey have, also, had rive children who have died, three 
dnughters and two sons. Mr. E. is one of the rirst pioneers of this 
township and a man of mark in the community in which he re- 
sides. 

'v5"'homas Murray, farmer, section o4, P. O. Lawler, owns 200 
acres of land; was born in 1834, in county Rosscommon, Ireland, 
and came to the United States in '51, and liveil two years in New 
Jersey, thence to Pennsylvania, and thence to Jt) Daviess county 
111., where he farmed until the spring of '6V>, when he came to 
Iowa, and settleil where he now resides. He purchased the land 
in June, '68, and it is now all improved and fenced, and fitted for 
stock. Was i\iarrieil in '53, in New Jersey, to Mary Byrne, and 
has ten children, Andrew, Mary, Thomas, Patrick, Katie, Ellen, 
Annie, Margaret, John and Celia. 

James Goss, farmer, section 34, P. 0. Lawler, owns 170 acree of 

land; was born in 1819, in county Queens,Ireland, and in '46 went 

to Canada, where he remained two days, and then crossed the line 

into the state of Vermont, remaining there a short time he went to 

.Albany, N. Y., where he remained three years, working at the 



CHICKASAW <'()UNTY HKK^KAI'HIEK. o6T 

ruovilding business. He moved to (^hio in '49, and '56 he came to 
Iowa and purchased the land he now owns of a settler; the land is 
all improved and well stocked. He has filled various offices, serv- 
ed one term on board of county supervisors, five terms as town- 
ship assessor, and over twelve years as township trustee. Was 
married in '53, at Sandusky, Ohio, to Mary Plunkett, l)y whom he 
has ten children living — Mary, Sarah, James, William, Ellen, 
Katie, Eliza, Rose, John and Maggie. Death has carried oft' two 
children. 

Charles Cummerford, farmer, section 5, P. 0. Lawler, is a mem- 
ber of the county board of supervisors. He was born in 1853, in 
Wisconsin, from which place his parents moved to iowa , in 18-50. 
He received his education in the public schools of this county. 
In 1880, he received the nomination in the democratic convention, 
and was elected by a rousing majarity to the position he now fills 
on the county board. He has also filled many offices in this town- 
ship. 

Thomas Cochran, farmer, section 35, P. 0. Lawler, owns 240 
acres of land in this county and a farm in F'ayette county. Was 
born in Ireland, in 1835, and came to America in 1854, and lived 
oiie year in Albany, N. Y. then moved to West Union, Fayette 
county, Iowa, and in about 1859 came to this count}'^, and pur- 
chased land on Crane creek, which he sold in 1870, and moved to 
where he now lives. The farm is all improved, fenced and fitted 
for stock purposes, to which it is devoted, and an elegant residence 
and large barns adorn this model farm, which is finely located. 
Was married in 1854, in Ireland, to Mrs. Susan Vaughan, by 
whom he has seven children. Mar aret Ann, Mary A., Lizzie E., 
Addie M., P^nnna C, William G. and Charles H. 

, Melke Monsen, farmer, section 5, P. 0. Lawler, owns 160 acres 
of land; was born in Norway, in 1812, and in '59 he came to the 
United States, and lived three years in Dane county, Wis., then 
went to southern Dakota, remaining three years, and removing to 
this county he purchased the land he now owns, which is all im- 
proved and fitted for stock raising. Was married in Norway to 
Mattie Halverson, and they have seven children, Mary Ann, Albert 
Ellen, Emma, Isabella, Muns and Anna. 

Thomas Johnson, farmer, section 35, P. 0. Saude, owns 200 



568 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

acres of land, of which forty acres are in timber; was born in Ra- 
cine, Wis., in 1853, and is a son of John Johnson, who came to 
this county the same year and purchased land from the govern- 
ment. Thomas received his preparatory education in the com- 
mon schools of the county, and in the fall of 71, entered the Lu- 
theran college at Decorah, where he remained three years; he then 
entered the Academy at Bradford, remaining two terms, and after- 
wards taught school. In 76 he commenced farming. He has fill- 
ed various offices in the township, and is one of the most promi- 
nent citizens. 

Allen Wheeler, farmer, section 24, P. 0. Tjawler, owns 200 acres 
nf land; was born in Tioga county, Pa., in 1825, and in '48 he mov- 
ed to Winnebago county. 111., and in '55 returned to Pennsylva- 
nia, having spent most of his time in farming and school teaching. 
In '58 he came to Iowa, and purchased the farm where he now re- 
sides. In the fall of '62 he enlisted at Jacksonville, in company C, 
thirty -eighth Iowa volunteer infantry, serving three years; he was 
with his regiment in all the engagements in which they participa- 
ted, and was discharged at Davenport, in '65. He then returned 
to the farm, which he has thoroughly improved. Was married in 
Alpha, Fayette county, lown to Mrs. Tabor (nee Thorp) of that 
place. 

Owen Reilly, farmer, section 31, P.O. Lawler, owns 206 acres of 
land. He was born in Ireland, in 1849, and after coming to this 
country, he settled in Massachusetts, but, in 1861, came to Iowa, 
and located at this ylace, where he has since been engaged in farm- 
ing. He was married in 1871, to Agnes Kearney, of Jacksonville 
township, by whom he has five children, Agnes, Owen, Thomaa, 
Michael and James. 

A. A. Boylan, farmer, section 23, P. O. Lawler, owns 160 acres 
of land; was born in 1827, in Mercer county, Pa. In 1857, he 
moved to Greene county, Wis., where he farmed until 1866, when 
he came to this cou ity, and purchased a farm. He served during 
the late war, in company A, Forty -sixth Wisconsin infantry. He 
was married in 1852, in Pennsylvania, to Eliza McFaiiand, and 
they have one son, A. C. Boylan, a prominent attorney of New 
Hampton. 

S. B. Vikdal, farmer, section 29, P. O. Saude, owns 200 acres of 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 569 

land; was born in Norway in 1837, and came to the United States 
in July, '64, and settling in Winnesheik county, Iowa, l;e taught 
school among the children of the people of his nativity, on Washing- 
ton Prairie for four years. In '68 he came to this place and pur- 
chasad the eighty acres that he resides on, and purchased the bal- 
ance later. The land is all improved, and stocked with a herd of 
about thirty head of cattle, among which are graded durhams; 
He has filled the office of township assessor two terms. Was mar- 
ried in Norway in '62, to Gertrude Dybevick, and their children 
are Baard, Annie, Synneve, Bottolf, Johan, Thorbijorn and Sigurd 
Karl Gustav. 

E. Slindee, farmer, section 19, P. O. Jacksonville, owns 160 acres 
of land; was born in Norway, in 1849, and came to the United 
States in '69, coming directly west, and was engaged three years in 
railroading and farm work in this state, and in Minnesota. He 
then came to this county and purchased eighty acres of land in 
this township^ which he afterwards sold, and came where he now 
resides in '75, and purchased the above land, which is all improv- 
ed, and well fitted for stock. He has a herd of about thirty head 
of cattle, and six head of horses; using two teams on the farm. 
Was married in the fall of '72, to Jane Michelson, and they have 
five children as the fruits of this union, Addie, Unni, Michael, 
Mary and Carrie. 

Owen Galligan, farmer, section 6, owns 285 acres; was born in 
county Cavanjreland, and came to the United States in the spring 
of 1850. He resided seven years at Rock Prairie, Wis., farming, 
and then removed to Iowa, settling where he now lives, purchas- 
ing his land of the government. His farm is improved and stocked 
with a herd of about thirty head of cattle, and nine horses. Mr. G 
was married in Massachusetts, in 1857, to Mary Brady, and they 
have seven children, Mary, Patrick, Bridget, Annie, Julia, John 
and Rose. 

0. H. Clause, farmer, section 23, P. 0. Lawler, owns 120 acres of 
land; was born in 1832,in Fulton county, N. Y.; his parents mov- 
ing in his infancy to Tioga county, Pa., where he was raised on a 
farm. He came to Iowa in '54, and purchased land in Cerro 
Gordo county, which he traded for the land he now owns, in '58. 
August 20, '62, he enlisted at Jacksonville, in company C, thirty- 



570 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

eighth Iowa volunteer infantry, and served until September, '65^ 
during which time he was promoted to the position of orderly- 
sergeant; he particir)ated with his regiment at the seige of Vicks- 
burg and the battles of Port Hudson, Brownsville, Texas, Fort 
Morgan, and at the taking of Fort Blakeley, which was the last 
charge of the war, April 9, '65. Was married in '58, in Dodge 
county, Wis., Miss Eunice Allen, and they have four children 
living — Flora, Eugenia, Mabel and Minnie; one child, Freddie, 
died. 

Ludwig Leusing, farmer, section 25, P. 0. I^awler, owns 120, 
acres of land; was born in 1825, in Germany, and came to America 
in 1846, living in Milwaukee until 1852, when he came to Iowa, 
and settled at Fort Atkinson, Winnesheik county, where he owned 
land and farmed, for several years. In 1864, he sold out and re- 
moved to this place and purchased the farm he now owns, and 
which is thoroughly Improved, fenced and well stocked and pleas- 
antly located on Little Turkey river. 

Terence Reilly, fanner, section 31, P. O. Lawler, owns 156 acres 
of land, of which 28 are in timber. He was born in county Cavan 
Ireland, October 2, 1834, and immigated to to the United States, 
in 1846, with his parents, who settled in Massachusetts. He came 
to Iowa in '56, where he purchased 200 acres of land and then went 
to Michigan, where he worked in the mills. About 1861, he re- 
turned to Iowa, and sold his land on the Little Turkey river and 
bought his present farm. This place he has thoroughly improved 
and fitted up for stock and dairy purposes. Mr. R. was married, 
October 27, 1868, in this county, to Rosa Mullen, and they have 
four children, John, William, Charles and Frank, 

N. R. Johnston, farmer, section 28, P. 0. Lawler, owns 170 acres 
of land; was born in Venango county, Pa., in 1833; his parents 
came to this state in '51, living during the summer, at Ft. Atkin- 
son, Winnesheik county, and in the following fall came to Chicka- 
saw county, and settled in this township, where his father, Hugh 
Johnson, entered the northeast (quarter of section 22. August 13> 
'61, N. R. enlisted at this place, in company I, ninth Iowa volun- 
teer infantry. He was discharged January 7, '62, on account of 
disability arising from spinal trouble. He then returned to this 
place where he has since resided, and is actively engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising. Was married in '60 to Miss Sprouls, and 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 571 

their children are William P., George B., Martha, Ellen J., Sarah 
E., Nancy M. and Gertrude. Mr. Johnston is a member- of Law- 
ler lodge, I. O. 0. F. 

John J. Swennumson, farmer, section 84, P.O. Saude, owns 320 
acres of land; was born in 1836, and came with his parents to the 
United States in '49, and settled in Racine county, Wis., where 
they resided seven years, then came to Iowa and settled where 
they now reside. The land is all improved. Was married in 75, 
in this county, to Caroline Johnson, and their children are, Anne, 
Johanna and Henrietta L. 

Peter Johnson, farmer, section 2, P. 0. Lawler, owns 220 acres 
of land; was born in Norway in 1840, and came with his parents 
to the United States in '42, his parents settling in Racine county, 
Wis. They came to Iowa in '54, locating in this township. The 
land on which he now resides is part of his father's original pur- 
chase from the government, and is nearly all improved, and well 
fitted for stock and general purposes. Was married in '70, in this 
county, to Julia Anderson, and their children are, John, Aniia, 
Isabel, Caroline, Olena, Johanna and Maria. 

Ole Swennumsom, farmer, section 34, P. 0. Lawler, owns 200 
acres of land; was born in Norway in 1837, and came to the Unit- 
ed States with his parents in '48, and settled in Iowa, at this place, 
in '54. The land he now owns is part of the original land pur- 
chased by his father from the government, and well improved. He 
was married at Calmar, Iowa, in '62, to Hilga Nelson, and their 
children are, John Sunde, Swenum, Nels, Ole, Emma, Caroline 
and Esther. 

Patrick Gorman, farmer, section 8, P. 0. Lawler; owns 280 
acres of land; was born in Baltimore, Md., 1824; he came to Iowa 
in '54, and settled where he now lives; he purchased eighty acres 
■of the government, and has purchased the rest since. Mr. Gor- 
man served three years in the United States navy, most of which 
time he was under Admiral Farragut. Was married in '51, at 
Baltimore, to Miss McDaniel, by whom he has four children, John 
William, James and Mary. 

J. C. Cronin, farmer, section 33, owns 250 acres; was born at 
Springfield Castle, county Limerick, Ire.and, in 1829, and was ed- 
ucated there. In '50 he came to America, and lived in Cook coun- 



672 



CHfCKASAW COUNTY BIOGUAPHIES. 



ty, Illinois for three years, engaging in stock raising. In 'o4 he 
came to Iowa and purchased land of the government, which is 
about all improved and fitted for stock raising. Mr. C. has filled 
the office of justice of the peace for twenty years. Was married 
in '49, in Ireland, to Mary Gany, and their children living are, 
Ellen, Margaret, David, John, George and Michael F. They have 
four deceased. 

James Kelly, farmer, section 21, P. O. Lawler, owns 385 [acres;, 
was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1825, and came to 
the United States in '45, and spent a few years in Rhode Island 
at farm labor; was then employed about ten years railroading in 
Ohio, principally in Ashtabula county, and in '58 he came to this 
state, and settled where he now resides. His land is mostly im- 
proved and fitted for stock raising. The land is valued at $25 per 
acre. Was married in '50, in Ohio, to Rosa Molloy, by whom he 
has three children, James, Bridget and John. 







CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 57S 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



Patrick; Lynch, farmer, section 36, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 
500 acres of land which is valued at $35 per acre; was born in 
1826, in county Tipperary, Ireland, where he received his educa- 
tion. He came to the United States in '48, and located for some 
time in New York city. Mr. Lynch has for nearly thirty-eight 
years been a successful constructor of railroads, and has held con- 
tracts on quite a number of them. He was the first man to start 
on the survey of the Troy and Boston railroad in '48. In '49 Mr^ 
L. was at work on the Albany and Northern railroad, where he re- 
mained until '53, when he came west to Illinois and took a con- 
tract to build a portion of what was then known as the Chicago 
and St. Charles air line railroad. The next year he built some 
twenty-four miles of the Chicago and Milwaukee road, the first 
section from C^hicago north. In '55 we find him with a contract 
on his hands to construct eighteen miles of the Detroit and Mil- 
waukee railroad, which having finished he removed to Dubuque 
in '56 and built part of what was called the Dubuque and Pa- 
cific railroad, now a branch of the great Illinois Central. In '57 



574 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

he had a contract on the Iowa Central air-line, and in '59 he built 
a portion (about seventeen miles) of the Albany and Mendota 
railroad. In '60 and '61 he was at work on the Cedar Rapids and 
Missouri river road, and in '62 and '63, leaving his railroad busi- 
ness, he was engaged in the grain and produce trade at Marshall- 
town, Iowa, and he, during the course of his business, shipped the 
first car load of produce from that point to Chicago. In '64 he 
took a large contract for grading, and making the heavy cuttings 
on the McGregor and Western railroad, and at the same time was 
engaged in buying produce of all kinds and again shipped the 
first car load of produce from Monona to Chicago — this was in '66. 
In '68-9 he was engaged in the ponstruction of the Cedar Rapids 
and Missouri river road again, having quite a large contract. 
Thirty miles of the I. and D. division of the C, M. and St. Paul 
road was built by him in '70-71. He was also a contractor on the 
Northern Pacific railroad in '72, and built twenty-five miles of the. 
St. Vincent branch of the St. Paul and Pacific railroad in '73. Mr. 
Lynch located on his present farm in this township in the latter 
year, and has since made it his home. He was united in marriage 
with Elizabeth Phelan, a native of county Kilkenny, Ireland, and 
the fruits of their marriage are six children, William, Mary, Ed- 
ward, Elizabeth, Margaret and John. Mr. Lynch is a successful 
breeder of graded short-horn cattle, Norman horses, and Poland- 
China hogs. He has sold out of his herd, which is a fine large 
one, some thirteen head of two and three year cattle, at an average 
of $80 per head, in the spring of '83. Mr. Lynch is quite a parti- 
san of the democratic party, and he and his family are attached to 
the Roman Catholic communion. 

Johannes Hauser, farmer, section 32, P. 0. North Washington 
owns 197 acres of land, valued at $25. He was born in Hesse 
Darmstadt, Germany, June 9, 1821. Came to America, in 1848, 
and first located in Winnebago county. 111., but, in '54, came to 
Chickasaw county, and permanently located in this township. He 
married Elizabeth Harig, who is also a native of Hesse Darmstadt, 
and who was born March 2, 1828. They have eleven children 
John, Anna, Elizabeth, Maria, Philip, Theresia, Barbara, Ettie, 
George, Helena and Anton. Mr. Haiser (n'ered his land from the, 
government, and was the first settler in Washington township and 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 675 

erected, on his homestead, the first residence in the same. He and 
his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. 

Ernest Friedman, youngest son of Jacob Friedman, was born in 
Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1858. He came to Chickasaw county, 
with his parents, in 1868, and has since been a resident of this town- 
ship; has traveled extensively through Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, 
Minnesota, and Missouri, and now resides on his father's farm in 
section 22. 

Michael Karn, North Washington, manufacturer of wagons, 
buggies aud sleighs. He was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1833. 
In '40 he came west with his parents to Worth county, Wisconsin, 
In 1870 he moved to Forest City, Minnesota, thence in '73 to Man- 
nah, Minn., and in '76 to North Washington, Chickasaw county 
and permanently located here. Was married to Caroline Hils- 
man, a natiye of Hanover. By this marriage he had three chil- 
dren, Rosa, Frances and Augustin. Mrs. Karn died in 1871. He 
then married Emma Heishop, a native of Prussia, and they have 
five children, Michael, Louis, Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth. Mr. 
K. served in the army during the rebellion, enlisting in thirty - 
fifth Wisconsin, but was transferred to the twenty -third Wiscon- 
sin, and was promoted sergeant. He remained with that regi- 
ment until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in 
Milwaukee, Wis., on November 28, '65. 

Casper Rohe, farmer, section 19, P. 0. North Washington, owns 
200 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre. He was born in the 
Wenniglohe District of Arnsberg, state of Westphalia, in the 
Kingdom of Prussia, June 2, 1829. He married Catharine Denne, 
Feb. 9, '58, she was born in Cambridge county, Pa., on October 25, 
'38, and they have six children, Julia, Martha, Henry, Mina, Su- 
sanna and Michael. Mr. R, and his family are members of the 
Roman Catholic church. 

Alpheus F. Wheeler, farmer, section 1 4, P. 0. New Hampton, 
owns 160 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Boone 
county. III, May 16, 1849, and came to Chickasaw county in '73, 
locating permanently in this township. On the 3d of September, 
'72, he was married to Marian Taylor, who was born in Rockford, 
111., March 9, '53. They have five children, Nellie J., George A., 
James E., William D. and Ira Q. Mr. Wheeler and his wife are 



576 ceicsasaw 

jntMnioeQt members of tlte Me: ^pal chmch, and be 

basalsolieldanambtt-of towr^ s. 

Daniel RoutT, £umw, »(4k>B ^ P. O. y~ K 
305 acres of Imd, vadiied at $S3 r<ef acre. r. 
^ ooontT, Iieland. Mar 10. IS:^ and came to A -7. 

fir^ loeactii^ in Bnx^dhrn. X. Y^ bot in the same y 
the ooal prions ctf ]^Bns7l\ania, and from tiier 4'> lo New 

J«s^T, wheie hemHked <m a &nn until '^l. He 
to New Yoik dty, where he Bred nalil "M. In 
vest and s^tkd in Rock ooantr. \Vis^, where be o: 
side nntil '^ wben be came to Cbiekssaw conniy .: 
ly localted in this township. Was manied to Mary Day, . 
<rircoantT Dublin, tr^and. and ther bare : -^, 

James. Danid and EliaL Tbe &mihr are n: > v^' ibe Rocaan 

Ostbolic cbnich. 



Ibomas Ze»aL, taim», section 2d. P. O. X<»th Washix^loiU) vns 
614 acres c!^ land. Tahied at $25 per acre; was bom in ProEaa in 
1821. and came to Ammcjt in ^52. locatii^ in Dnboqne oooufcr, 
and in "W be lonot^ to bis {H«sent fiom. Was maroed to Anna 
Ottberine Gilbeits vbo was also bom in Pktissia, and vbo died in 
T7. Tbev bjid tw«diildmi.F^»-J. and Tboma& I& seomd 
mania^ w:»s to Mis. Anna Scblntter. in TS^ and they bare by 
this mairiage two diildren. Maria £. axkd Sxsaua E. His stMXwd 
-wife bas thre<e cbildrai by a fenner btsband, Anna K^ WiUidm 
K. and Anna M.. ore? whom Mr. Ze%n ^ gqaidian Tbe fioaity 
are membas of tbe Roman Oubolic cboicb. 

Jcsef^ Smith. &rm^. section ^ P. O. New Hampton, ovbs 
o30 aops of land, v&l-;ied at $25 per acre. He was bom in Ba- 
Taiia. Geimany. in 1S±1 and wboi ten y^«rs of age came with bis 
parents to Am^ica. and tbe^.^ ~~^- loostion was in Maiyland. One 

year later tbey removed to ^:r j. IkiH eonnty, ftu wbere tbey re 

mained s>ev^n yt^sirs. and th«» returned to Manrfaokd. Mr. S- 5»lx>ii 
mox^i back to Pwia^yivaaisu in whicb state be made bis boaie 
until ^55. when he caiue to lowx, and sietded upon the &rai on 
wbicb be now ivsides. He w^ inamed to Louisa HulbnKC^DHi, 
who was Kmh in Haao>vex. O^eroiany. Tliey bax^ seven cbiUbraEu 
Mary K.. Fiank S., Batbua, Joseph, John, M^anda and Geoiige.. 
Mr. Suiitb bas beid quite a numb» of tbe towi^ip offioes;. bav- 



Bag Wttt IfriwdMy t i»^>! ail: yaess a»i in BriHgwi ag a 



aKB«& -vaOae^ ic $^ fior aioc^: was Ikoam tt fViesoi m IS^ aid 
quB»l»' -%BTifflwa m '5t>. ami HaffiirTit aa Cteaft: qwarinr, lE^ QteBxaoft- 

9B«atei£w^~~ ^^ ~ --^r^Sfs^ Was aaeskd to Ssf&a S^viBIk. 
al^ a ffift.'.. , - - . -lusffii. iad i;fi8?«^ '^^*'^-^ toa «feE&ii»flu. Fie(fcMk:^Ki&- 

«■» «if tibi' lieai&Bg: iaeaibeesm: ulst' to4inii>ci:^^ iiavi k&$: %eea 

ifefiflKt Fsril^sataaar. . . . <V Afiw-YKtsa^ w was (SSQt 

acc«*':c ^iJiNitf «aita»i aC $"i~ p«r acre;: irje been, cm I^ei%t ©WBBtyv 
"W&v^ ta I>44. ami cante : iataiw ctjTiatT tit "'^^ ami Ikncated 

□ttt&i;^ •■ - ■ Was mazrrKtilfc* 

Ljn^ j-i. - TiujT ha^nj tifiie^ 

«at-_; ~' " -"-- -■ - -~ ■ I-~ 

«aBi^ Gi? .irnls. " -■ : "-: . •,<5.. 

Kan.'- . to Wietwnsiu. ruLo\c«*i tosjcLcy ia l^ft Ws* ^I 

^eaaagr^ 1 .h?^ adikti ssoat tiEnaa? ti&ac fe^ i- iHie«4 

""-V :^caf jQtiir. ianittir.. ^>ei:T P^ Ol X<tw IfemtgrtRjav ©was 

3^» c. ■•^. H« wt»* feefiia la Baft> 

*fv • ^acstffage oms' urSiia &i& 

puiTL- - "~ ■■-!: vas to. S*£^ Y^ck^amd 

^ rr- - - ~ ''ir&ja^ But Beeafei UBi- 

^ ^ I.-?w< 'Off i?fe.e- auEiE. wfeecc 

sj been. ixL iTtirtuiurT- flisi-v ha\re^ n -'^ L^ I'^> 

FctttiJSL Aanisf . If . H»fany, >:*_ ~&. life. 

Ss-. - - ' - ~ ^ 

uBCC -V .. '- ^. • - ■ ' - 



678 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

owns eighty acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in 
Prussia, in 1831, and when twenty-six years of age he came to 
America, and first located in Illinois and made it his home until 
'70, when he came to Iowa and settled upon the farm on which 
he now resides. Was married to Dora Ther Gruenewald, who 
was born in Lij^pe, Germany. They have nine children, Mary C. 
Lidia E., John F., George B., Herman W., Wilhelm Bismark 
Moltke, Henry A. C, Johanna W. and Frederick Charles. Mr. 
C. has held the office of school director for a number of years. In 
religion he is a congregationalist. 

Jacob Friedman, farmer, section 22, P. 0. North Washington 
owns 120 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Baden, 
Germany, in 1826, and came to America in '32, and settled in New 
York with his parents. Two years later they removed to Ohio, 
where they remained until '57, at which time he came to Iowa, 
and after making several changes, he located in this township in 
'68, Was nnited in marriage to Barbara Heinrich, of Bavona, 
Germany, and they have nine children, John, Louis, George, 
Jacob, Joseph, Ernest, Mary. Susanna, Elizabeth and Lena. Mr. 
Freidman, and his entire family, are members of the Roman 
Catholic church. 

Elisha W. Sorter, farmer, section 23, P. O. New Hampton, owns 
160 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre ; was born in New York, 
in 1822, where he lived until he was twelve years of age, when he 
removed with his parents to Ohio, remaining there until he was 
sixteen years of age. Removing to Michigan they resided there 
until he was nineteen years of age. He then moved to Illinois, 
where he remained until '55, and in that year he came to Chicka- 
saw county, and entered government land in this township. Was 
married to Sally Ann Barnes, who was born in New York in 1828, 
and they have three children, Winfield Scott, Horace B. and Hi- 
ram. Death entered the family of Mr. S. and took away his only 
daughter, on May 2, '83. 

John J. Snj'der, farmer, section 23, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 
320 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Perry coun- 
ty, Ohio, in 1850, whence he removed in 1870 to Chickasaw coun- 
ty, permanently locating in this township. Mr. S. has been a prom- 
inent politician in this township, and has held the office of justice 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 579 

of the peace six years. Was iiiarried to Anna Gossinan, a native 
of Perry county, Ohio, and they have three children, Mary Endora, 
Nellie Grace and Robert Francis. Mr. S. and family are ineni- 
bers of the Roman Catholic church. 

J. H. Hewitt, farmer, section 25, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 320 
acres of land, valued at !$25 per acre. He was born in Rochester, 
N. Y., in 1834. When five years of age his parents removed to 
Whiteside county, 111., where young J. H. grew to manhood. In 
1855 he came to this county and he and his wife were the first to 
keep house in the town of New Hampton. In '58 he settled on 
his present farm, and was the first school treasurer of the town- 
ship, and has since held nearly all the offices in this township. 
His wife was a Calista A. Taylor, also a native of New York, and 
they have seven chfldren, W. B., J. F., J. C, J. H., Emma J., Eu- 
nice A. and Bertha C. 

Heinrich Gilbert, farmer, section 28, P. O. North Washington; 
owns 640 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Crich- 
ten,Kreisbitburg county, Frier, Prussia, on the 14th of May, 1827, 
and came. to America in September, '54, and settled in Dubuque 
county remaining four years, from there he removed to this county 
enteririg a part of his present farm. He married Barbara Rieswho 
was born in Ferschweiler,Kreisbitburg county,Frier Prussia. They 
have seven children, John P., Michael., Nicholas., Peter., Susanna, 
Anna., Catherine, Mr. G. and his family are in religion Roman 
Catholics. 

Micharl Ries, farmer, section thirty. P.O. North Washington, 
owns 560 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Prussia, 
in 1883, and came to America in 52, locating in Cook county 111. 
when he remained 3 years, when he moved to Clayton County 
Iowa and in 58 came to Chickasaw County and purchased a por- 
tion of the land on which he now resides. He married Margaret 
Eleuz, also a native of Prussia, and they have six children Anna, 
Jacob, Michael, Mathias, Catherine, and Maria. Mr.Ries has been 
Justice of the peace 18 years. Tlie family are members of the 
Romans Catholic church. 

I.O.Eggleston, farmer, sec. 35 P.O. New Hampton, own8,385 acres 
of land valued at $20 per acre, was born in Oneida county New 
York, in 1831. When he was 16 years of age he went to Whiteside 



580 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

county Ills, where he remained until 1855 when he came to this 
county and settled on his present farm. He married Laura Ann 
Hewitt, who was also born in New York and they have six children 
living, Lewis, Orison, William, Joseph, Lovina, and Libbie 

John J. Davis, fanner, section 2 P.O. New Hampton Iowa owns 
160 acres of laud valued at $25 per acre. Mr. Davis was born in 
Stapleton township, Chickasaw county in 1858,he located in \Va s 
ington township in 1880 during the mean time he was absent from 
the county for two years, having removed to Dakota, he however 
returned to Chickasaw county, well satistied with his old home. 
He was united in marriage Anna L.Rice who is also a native of this 
county. 

John Reich, farmer, section 34, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 470 
acres of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Bavaria 
Germany, in 1882, and came to America in 1856, first locatmg in 
Illinois, whc'fo he remained until 1860, at which time he came to 
this county, locating on his present farm. He married Catherine 
H. Hauser, who was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and who 
came to America, with her parents, and settled in Illinois. They 
have nine children, Franklin E., Theresa A., Elizabeth, George 
Henry, Dora M., Henrietta C, Henry N., Louis Philip and'john A. 

Tilden S.Rice, section 23, P. 0. New Hampton owns 80 acres of 
land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Vermont in 1833 
December 31. In 1843 he removed to Masschusetts and from there 
to Illinois, in 1854, remainino there until '56, and in that year he 
came to Chickasaw county and entered his land from the govern- 
ment, and has made it his permanent home since. Was married 
to Mary R. Weo<l, a native of New Hampshire, and they have 
three children, Ami L., Harriett W. and Esther A. Mr. Rice has 
held some of the public offices in the township, among others, 
trustee. 

Peter Blankenheim, farmer, section 28, P. 0. Noith Washing- 
ton, owns 280 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in 
Prussia, in 1833, and come to America in 1850, first locating in 
Wisconsin. In '53 he removed to Clayton county, this state, and 
remained there four years. In '65 he came to Chickasaw county, 
and permanently located in this township. Was married to Lou- 
isa Schlick, a native of Prussia, and they have ten children, Chris- 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 581 

lina, Heinrich, Joseph, Magdelena, Catharina, Anna, Clotilda, Jo- 
sephine, Theresia and Maria. Mr. B. holds the office of justice of 
the peace, in this township and other minor offices. He and 
his family are member of the Roman Catholic church. 

Albert W. Milness, farmer, section 22, P. O.New Hampton owns 
160of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in England in 1841, 
first settling in Wisconsin from which place, he went to Cal- 
ifornia where he remained until 1863 and in that year he removed 
to Montana from thence in 1875,he returned to Wisconsin and came 
to Chickasaw county and permanently located in this township in 
1877. Was united in marriage with Sarah Hunter, who was born 
in the state of Wisconsin. 

Michael Cavanaugh,farmer,section 24 P. O.New Hampton owns 
240 acres of land valued at $25 per acres. He was born ill Canada 
October 13.1843and came to the United States with parents in 1847 
they first settled in Wisconsin where he remained until 1876, 
when he came to Chickasaw county and permanently located in 
this township. He married Catharine Smith a native of Lafayette 
county. Wis. They have four children, John, Leroy,Mary, Francis, 
Bridget, Anna, and Michael. Mr. Cavanaugh and his family are 
members of the Catholic church. 



682 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



Friederich Blase, farmer, section 24, P.O., Alta Vista, owns 160 
acres of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Westphalia 
Germany December 1 1841 and came to America in 1869 coming 
to Chickasaw county Iowa and permanently locating in this town 
ship. He was married to Louisa Frieselmeier, a native of West- 
phalia Germany, and they have 4 children, Anna M. C, born March 
51867; Maria Louisa, born Febuary 4, 1871; Frederich Wilhelm, 
born February 4, 1874; and Charlotte, born November 24, 1876. 

Flavins J. George, farmer, section 20, P.O. Bassett, owns 80 acres 
of land valued at $30 per acre. He was born in Livingston county 
New York, in 1817, came west with his parents in 1818 and first 
located in Ohio from there in 1838 he moved to Michigan and 
from thence in 1845 to Whitewater Wisconsin. In 1847 he removed 
to Oshkosh Wis, and in 1870 emigrated to Charles City in this state. 
And in 1872 come to Chickasaw county and located in this town- 
ship. He married Clarisa Dewey, who was born in 1818 in Madison 
county, New York. They have one child Dewey H. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 583 

George Goddard, farmer, section 34, owns eighty acres of land; 
was born in Frinley, in Surrey, twenty-nine miles from London, 
England, and as "westward the course of Empire takes its way," 
accordingly Mr. Goddard came to America, to try his fortune in 
ths ''new world," and first located at Waterville, in the state of 
Connecticut, where he resided until '53, when he again turned his 
face toward the west, 

"To the land of the free, 

Where the great Missouri rolls down to the sea." 

His objective point being Chickasaw county, where he located per- 
manently, and has since been engaged in farming. His farm is 
under a good state of cultivation and well improved. He is one 
of the pioneers of the county and has seen the hand of progress 
held aloft over domain, since its sparsly settled condition on his 
arrival to its present prosperous condition. Mr. Goddard, al- 
though still retaining a deep love, and high regard for his "native 
heath," yet, with all, is a truly loyal American citizen, and is al- 
ways desirous of promoting the public welfare. Was united in . 
marriage to Ann Wright, of Yorkshire, England, and they have 
three children, named Eliza W., George J. and Mary N. 

Andrew Michael, farmer, section 31, P. 0. Bassett, owns 140 
acres ol land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Augusta 
county, Virginia, February 12, 1820, and came west with his pa- 
rents, first locating in Indiana. From there, in 1835, he moved 
to Cass county, Iowa, and from thence, in 1857, to Winnesheik 
county, and in 1864, came to Chickasaw county, locating in this 
township. He married Martha Ann Beard, who was born March 
23d, 1832, and they have six children, Jonathan T., born November 
6, 1849; Mary Ellen, born April 9, 1853; Catherine Alice, born 
August 22, 1855; George A'., born April 27, 1864; Lucy Eveline, 
born April 30, 1867; Martha Etta, born May 27, 1862. Mr. Michael 
has held some of the township offices, and is a breeder of Durham 
graded cattle, and Berkshire and Poland China swine. 

Levi Stephens, section 34, P. 0. Deerfield, owns 220 acres of 
land valued at $30 per acre. He was born in Lower Canada, May 
12, 1844, and came with his parents to the United States in 1853, 
first locating at Aurora, 111. In 1855, he removed to Chickasaw 
county and permanently located in this township. He married 
Mrs. Catherine Palmer,born Cain, a native of Limerick county, 



584 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. , 

Ireland, March 1, 1S41. They have two children, Mary Ann and 
Gordon L. Mr. Stephens, his wife and daughter, are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Martin Stephens, father of Levi, was born in Rutland, Vermont, 
in 1S20. His parents lived in Canada, but while on a visit to that 
state the child was born. He emigrated to the United States in 
1S53. first locating at Aurora, 111., but, in 1S55. removed to this 
township and county. He married Mary Ann Lea^'itt, also a na- 
tive of Canada, and they are blessed with four children, Levi, Elsie 
O., Henry A. and Martin E. 

Sanford E. Allen, farmer, section 29, P. 0. Bassett, owns S'it) 
acres of land, valued at 82-5 per acre; was born in upper Canada, 
in 1838, came to the United States in '54, and they tirst located in 
Chickasaw county, in '59 he went to California, returning to this 
county in '63, and permanantly locating here. During his resi- 
dence in this county he owned a third interest in the Chickasaw 
flouring mills, and was also proprietor of the saw mill. In To he 
located on on his present farm, in this township, where he has es- 
tablished a creamery with a capacity of 1,200 pounds of butter 
per day. He is now (June 1SS3) making about 1,000 per day, he 
also raises a a tine stock of cattle which includes many tine grade 
Durhams. He has held the office of justice of the peace for several 
years, and is a prominent member of the M. E. church. Mr. A.'s 
first wife was Sarah Jane Channer. who died in in 1S70, leaving 
three children, Eva L., Burr and Elwin. He afterwards married 
married Lura Clark, who died in 77, leaving one child. Ernest. 
He then married Hattie Channer, who died the following year. 
His present wife was Libbie Channer, a sister of the former, and 
they have one child, Iva. 

Josiah A. Stuart, farmer, section 17, P. 0. Bassett, owns forty 
acres of land, valued at S30 per acre; was born in Maine, March 
1835, and moved with his parents to Massachusetts in '45, and in 
'56 moved to Michigan, and in the same year came to Chickasaw 
county and located in this township. Was married to Mrs. Es- 
ther M. Rathman, who was born in Canada. May 25, '45. They 
have two children. Maria, born May 5, 71, and Giant, born Sept. 
4, '73. Mr. Stuart has been quite prominent in county politics, 
and has held the office of justice of the peace for fourteen years, 
he has also held other township offices. 



• 'HICKAS^AW roiNTY lUOGKAPHlF.B. 585 

Artluir H. Shiros, tanner, section 32, T. O. Hasseti, owns eiglity 
acres of land valued at S25 per acre; was born in England on the 
third day of April, 183G, and came to America in '54, and first lo- 
cated in Luierne county. Pa., and from there, in '50, he removed to 
Richland county, Wis., and in '65 he came to Chickasaw county, 
and permanantly located in this township. He married Frances 
Maria Calder, who was hovn in Erie county, Pa., May 8, '38. They 
have three children, Edward Lincoln, Ettie and Myrtle Eiina. 
Mi"s. Shires is a nuMuber of the M. E. church. iMr. S. is promi- 
nent as a politician, and has filled a number of the township of- 
fices during his residence in the county. He is a breeder in fine 
Durham cattle. 

John Rapp, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, Jyne 11th 
1819, and came to America in 1851, first locating in Winnebago 
county, 111., and in 1866 he came toChiekasaw county, settling in 
this township. He married Apollonia Ilauser, a native also of 
Hesse Darmstadt, born July 18, 1826. Mr. Rap]) died January 
23, 1882. 

George Rapp, farmer, section 26, P. O. North Wjisliington, owns 
85 acres of land valued at §25 per acre. He wjis born in Winne- 
bago count}', 111., February 26, J 855. From thence, in 1866, he 
moved with his parents to Chickasaw county and located in this 
township where he has continued to reside. He was married, on 
the 22d of October, 1878, to Anna Koch, who was born in Chicka- 
saw county, October 22, 1861. and they have two children, Juhn 
and Wilhelni. Mr. Rapp and his family are members of the Ro- 
man Catholic Church. 

Edwin'C. Pelton, farmer., section 4. P. O. Deerfielil, owns 190 
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; was born in Rensselaer 
count}', N. Y., March 25, 1833, ami moved with his parents in '39 
to Erie count)', Pa. In '55 he went to Winnebago county, 111.^ 
and in '57 removed toChiekasaw county, and permanently located 
in this township. He married Ruth A. Palmer, who was born in 
Onondaga county, N. Y., November 9, '39. Tiiey had two chil- 
dren, Albert \'l. and Alma, the latter, however, died in Ikm- infancy. 
Jennie V., was adopted by Mr. Pelton, and takes liis name. Mr. 
and Mrs. Pelton are members of the M. K. church. He has held 
the office of postmaster for fifteen years, and is the present incum- 
bent. 



586 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Michael Adains, farmer, section 25, P. O. North Washington, 
owns 200 acres of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in 
Luxemburg, on the 27th day of May, 1832, and came to America 
in ^55, and first located in Dubuque county,' this state, thence, in 
'65 he came to Chickasaw county, and permanantly located in 
this township. He married Catharine Kalen, a native of Prussia, 
she was born in '34, and they have eleven children, Elizabeth, 
born February 5, '59, Michiel B., born March 7, '60, John C.,.born 
December 27, '63, John Peter, born March 11, 65, Heinrich, born 
iVovember 8, 66, Anna C, born May 28, '68, Maria M., born De- 
cember 3, '69, Susanna, born June 12, '71, Maria E., born April 
22d, '73, John M., born March 11, '75 and Joseph I., born July 
31, '76. Mr. Adams and his i'amily are members of the Roman 
Catholic church. 

Joseph Marion, farmer, section 35, P. 0. North Washington; 
owns 480 acres of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in 
Alsace, Germany, January "29, 1824, and came to this country in 
1844, locating for a time in Lee county, Iowa, from whence he re-' 
moved, in 1857, to Chickasaw county, and settled in this township. 
He married Margaretha Roethler, who was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, in 1839. They have nine children, Joseph, Elizabeth, Cath- 
rina, George, Anna, Wilhelm, Henry, Margaretha and Alois. Mr. 
Marion and his family are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 

Maxamilian Marion, farmer, section 19, P. O. North Washing- • 
ton. owns 260 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in 
Alsace, Germany, on the 18th day of July, 1830, and came to this 
country in '44, and first located in Lee county, Iowa, thence, in '63, 
he came to Chickasaw county, and permanently located in this 
township. He married Maria Magdelina Feldeisen, who was born 
in Alsace, Germany, in 1840, and they have six children, Mary, 
Rosalia, Odelia, Helena Xavier and Clara. He and his family are 
members of the Roman Catholic church, and he has held various 
township offices. 

George Hof, farmer, section 23, P. O. Bassett, owns 400 acres 
of land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in VV^urtemburg, 
Germany, October 30, 1825, and came to America in 1857 and lo- 
cated in Chickasaw county which he has made his home ever 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 687 

since. He was married to Anna Margaretha Heinrich, who waa 
born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1833. They have six children, 
Catharina, Wilhelm, George, Sophia, Sarah and Maria. Mr. Hof 
and his family are members of the German Evangelical Associa- 
tion. 

Oren Hammon, section 18, P. O. Bassett; own 80 acres of land 
valued at $25 per acre. He was born May 25, 1850, in Indiana. 
He came west Avith his parents, in 1854, to Chickasaw county, first 
locating in Chickasaw township, but in 1877, removed to this toAvn- 
ship where he has since remained. He was united in marriage 
with Eunice Bates, who was born in Illinois, January 21, 1855, and 
they have one child, Emma, born December 13, 1877. 

Joshua C. Ashley, farmer, section 29, P. 0. Bassett; was born 
at Deerfield, Mass., March 18, 1818, and came west in 1854, settling 
in Chickasaw county and has made it his residence ever since. He 
married Eliza Smith, who was born in Brookfield, Vermont, Jan. 
12, 1814, and they have five children, Delia Eliza, Franklin Kend- 
rick, Austin Crosby, Ellen Maria and John George. 

Samuel Rose, farmer, section 34, P, 0. Ionia; owns 85 acres of 
land valued at $25 per acre. He was born in Chenango, Broome 
csunty, N. Y., in 1823, and came west, to Wisconsin, in 1841. In 
1867, he removed to Chickasaw county, locating in this township, 
where he has continued to reside. He was united in marriage with 
Eliza Cunningham, who was born in New York, and they have 
three children, Wilbur W., Mary Jane and Adelia. 



688 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



DRESDEN TOWNSHIP. 



George Hillson, farmer, section 13, owns ninety acres in section 
30, was born in 1813, in Cornwood, Devonshire, Eng., and was 
with his father on an estate until he was eighteen years of age, 
then was in the navy for a short time, and then served an appren- 
ticeship as wheelwright for about five years, and then went to 
north of England, and worked at his trade in Cheshire, where he 
was married in '48 to Sarah Elford, of Devonshire. In April '49 
he came to America, and landed in Boston, and lived in Andover, 
Mass., four years, and then moved to Rockford, 111., where he re- 
mained two years, and in May, '55 he came to Iowa, and located 
in Fredricksburg , where he still resides, on land purchased* of 
Wm. Linderman, who had entered it. The comfortable residence 
in which they reside is the standing monument of pioneer labor; 
it is large and comfortable, and was built when he first came here, 
entirely by himself, with natural material. The subject of this 
sketch did the first job of wagon work ever accomplished in this 
neighborhood, and was the first class leader in the M. E. churchy 
which was organized in '55, and he still occupies that position. la 
always actively engaged in the educational work, and was about 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 589' 

the earliest medical practitioner in the neighborhood, and in the 
early days ministered to the wants of the afflicted for many miles 
around. Their children are Charles R., Horace H. and Francis L., 
the latter is conducting a blacksmith and wagon shop in the vil- 
lage in partnership with Horace. 

John Kolthoff, farmer, section 7, owns 107 acres of land and Is- 
proprietor of the "Kolthofi cheese and butter factory," which was 
established in the spring of 1878; the main building is 24x40, two 
stories, and an addition 12x20. The manufacturing room con- 
tains two tanks and fourteen presses, with a capacity for 7000 
pounds of milk, which is equal to 700 pounds of cheese per day, 
the average amo mt n.ade per day during the season, which is 
from the middle of May to the first of December, is 500 pounda 
per day. Between December and May the butter business is con- 
ducted, making about 200 pounds, of that article, per day. The 
necessary power for running the machinery is obtained from an 
engine and boiler. The shipments during six months, season of 
1882, was 70,000 pounds of cheese. Mr. Kolthoff, is a native of 
Prussia, and came to the United States in 1888; spent four years in 
McHenry county 111., where he learned his business. He also 
operates an extensive ftirm, which is all improved and under fence, 
and well stocked. Was married in 1878, in Illinois, to Lena Elfera, 
and their children are, George, Willie, and twins, unnauied. 

R. B. Gardner, farmer, section 24, owns 200 acres of land; waa 
born in 1836 in Steuben county, Pa., and moved in his boyhood 
to Manchester, Boone county. 111., where he remained until he 
was about nineteen years of age, and then went to Wisconsin, and 
about '56 came to Iowa, and purchased land in '58, but afterwards 
Bold it. On August 15, '62, he enlisted in the thirty-eighth Iowa. 
volunteer infantr}'-, but was transferred at Dubuque to company 
E, ninth Iowa volunteer infantry, then stationed at Helena, Ark.;, 
he served with that regiment until July 28, '64, and he re-enlisted 
in the same regiment at Woodville, Ala., and remained till the 
close of the war, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and dis- 
charged at Davenport, Iowa, in the fall of '65, having participated 
in all the battles in which his regiment took part, and received a- 
Bhot wound at Bentonville, N. C. Alter his discharge he returned 
to this place, and in the fall of '76 purchased his present farm^ 



590 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Tvhich is thoroughly improved with a handsome residence- and ele- 
gant groves. He keeps from forty to fifty head of cattle on the 
farm, among which are fine graded Durhams. Was married in '57 
in this county to Elizabeth Frisdall, and they have eight children, 
Ida. Austin, Emeline, Nettie, Riley, May, Katie and Clifton. Is a 
member of J. V. Carpenter post, G. A. R. 

B. G. Crofts, farmer, section 16, owns 379 af land, also proprie- 
tor of Spring Creek creamery. Was born in 1831 in Vermont, 
and with his parents moved to Geauga county, Ohio, where they 
remained eight years, then moved to Boone county. III. In '60 
B. G. came to Iowa, and lived four years in Fayette county, and 
then came to where he now resides, where he carries on an exten- 
sive stock business, having about ninety head of cattle, and about 
twelve horses and colts, besides other stock. The farm ia operat- 
ed by his son-in-law, Wm. Hackett. In March, '82, Mr. C. estab- 
lished the creamery, which has proved itself a paying institution; 
it is 16x26 feet, two stories, fitted with wind mill and horse pow- 
er, one churn, one vat and worker, and has a capacity of making 
500 pounds of butter per day, shipping on an averuge 1,800 poundj 
of butter per week. Mr. C. has served two terms on the board of 
county supervisors. Was married in February, '52, in Boone coun- 
ty, 111., to Susannah .Stone, and their children are, Clara E., El- 
ner G., Mattie, William G. and Warren. Is a member of Fred- 
ricksburg lodge, A. F. A. M. 

C. M. Stone, farmer, P. O. Fredericksburg, owns 320 acres of 
land; was born at Sherman. Cbatauqua county, N. Y.,in'37. With 
his father, he moved to Illinois in '43, and later to Green county, 
Wis. In '54, after the death of his father, he came to Iowa, and 
entered eighty acres of government land, which he afterwards sold. 
Was afterwords engaged in conducting a meat market, in Lawlcr, 
for three years; he then sold out, purchasing land in this town- 
ship. This land is all improved and fitted for stock purpoees. On 

an average, he keeps eighteen head of horses and fifty head of cat- 

le. Mr. Stone, operates all the land himself, and has filled the 

office of justice of the peace, for several yaars, and also, that of 

township trustee. Was married in 'GO, in this township, to Elsio 

J. Fisk, and they have six children, David.!., Charles H., Mary A., 

Willie B. and Ebenezer I. Mrs. Stone is also a native of Nevr 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 591 

York, and is a daughter of J. G. Fisk, of Utica township, this 
county. 

W. H. Linderman, farmer, section 23, owns 360 acres of land; 
born in 1824 in Tompkins county, N. Y., and in '42 moved to 
Boone county, 111., and engaged in farming until June, '54, when 
he came to this county, and purchased 160 acres of government 
land. He has been a resident of this township ever since, except 
one year which he spent in California, and has resided seven years 
in the village of Fredericksburg. The land is all improved and 
well fitted for stock purposes, and has a good grade of Durham 
cattle, from forty to fifty head, and from twelve to twenty horses. 
Mr. L. has sers'ed two terms on the county board of &upervisoi"S. 
Was married in '47, in Illinois, to Mrs. P. Adams, and their chil- 
dren are, Merritt, Fanny, Frank and Edward. 

A. Knight, farmer, owns 340 acres of land; was born in 1827, at 
Rushford, N. Y. In 1862, he left that state, and located in Free- 
port, 111., where he was engaged in farming, two years and then 
came to Iowa and purchased the home faim, at this placa, having 
bought the balance since. Keeps from sixty to eighty head of 
cattle, some of which are full-blood Durham, and nearly all high 
grade. Mr. K. was married, '65, in this state, to Louisa M. Wil- 
cox, by whom he has one child, Lydia May; he has also three 
coildren, by a former marriage, Carrie C, Adeline S. and Annie. 

George Barker, farmer, section 36, owns 600 acres of land ; was 
born in Yorkshire, England, in '20 and came to America in '53, 
farming for five years in Cook county. 111., then came to this state 
and commenced improving 160 acres which he had purchased at 
government price some years previous, and has purchased the 
rest of land since, now all improved, and constitutes one of the 
finest tarms in the county, keeping from seventy to one hundred 
bead of cattle, of good grade. Fine residence and barns ornament 
the model farm. Was married in England in '50, to Isabella 
Swale, by whom he has four children, Samuel, James, Edward 
and Isabella. 

E. W. Proctor, farmer, section 7, owns 215 acres of land; was 
born in '26, in Erie county, Ohio, and in '56 he came to Iowa and 
locating where he now resides, and purchased 120 acres, having 
bought the rest since. The land is all well improved, and a fine 
residence and building adorn the place. Was married in '53, in 



I 

-592 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Ohio, to Sarah Hamer, by whom he^had three children, only one, 
Fva, living. Mrs. P. died in 71, and he afterwards married in 74 
Minerva Cornell, of Fredricksburg township, by whom he has 
three children. 

Jonathan Jones, farmer, section 16, owns 160 acres; was born 
in '12, in Benson, Vt., and his parents moved in the following year 
to Pennsylvania, and five year later to Cayuga county, N. Y., 
where he remained until '36, then moved to Kendall county, 111., 
later moved to Lake county. 111., where he remained until '55, 
when he came to Iowa and settled where he now resides. His 
land is all improved, and well fitted and stocked, with cattle, 
•eheep, horses, etc. Was married in '33, in New York to Miss 
Reed; five daughters and three sons now living. Mrs. J. died in 
'62, annd he was again married in this ceunty to Mrs. Brown 
(nee Campbell) by whom he has one daughter. 

E. A. Churchill, farmer, section 26, owns 80 acres of land; was 
born in Westerford, Chittenden county, Vt. When about twenty 
years of age, he moved to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he re- 
mained five years, railroading, and then moved to Belvidere, 111., 
Boone county, remaining two years, when he came to Iowa, set- 
tling in Bremer county, in '55, taking up government land. In Au- 
gust, '62, he enlisted in companj'- B, Fourteenth Iowa regiment, 
at Waverly, served two and a half years, and was discharged at 
Davenport, in November, '64. Removed to this county in '68, 
and bought the land he now owns but did not move on it for two 
years, renting land near Fredericksburg. Was married in Bremer 
county, in '57, to Lucy Watkins, and they have four children, 
Albert, Henry, Henrietta and Mary. Mr. C. is a member of the 
G. A. R. post at Fredericksburg. 

O. Burnham, farmer, section 25, owns 260 acres of land; was 
born in '32, in Orleans county, N. Y., and in the spring of '55 he 
came to Iowa, locating where he now resides, and obtained eighty 
acres from the government, the rest he has since purchased. The 
land is well improved and thoroughly fitted as a stock and dairy 
farm. A fine residence, barns, groves and gardens beautify this 
model home. Was married in '54, in New York, to Nancy Ann 
Day, by whom he has two children, Alida and Alma. He is a 
member of A. F, A. M. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 593 

John Howard Sr., farmer, section 30, owns 280 acres of land; 
was born in Devonshire, England, in '12, and was engaged there 
at farm labor until '50, when he came to the United States, and 
settled in Huron county, Ohio. Came to Iowa in February, '55, 
settling in Fayette county, and in November, '56, moved to this 
county, where he entered 120 acres of land from the government. 
He is one of the most extensive as well as most thorough farmers 
in the township, and his farm is truly a model one, being fitted in 
the best manner for stock and dairy purposes, and is stocked with 
about forty head of cattle and six horses, Was married in Eng- 
land, July 12, '40, to Sarah Heal, and they have four children, 
John, George, Ellen and James. 

John Ward, farmer and blacksmith, section 21; was born in 
Huntingdonshire, England, in '45, and his parents brought him to 
the United States in his childhood, and settled in Linn, Wis., 
where he resided five years, and then went to McHenry county, 
111., whei'e he learned his trade, and in the fall of '72 he came to 
Iowa and commenced farming, and established business. Was 
married in '72 in Wisconsin, to Miss Warren, and have two chil- 
dren. 

F. Burmaster, farmer, section 30, owns 440 acres of land; was 
born in Mecklenburg, Swerene, Germany, April 23, '22, he was en- 
gaged in driving stage in the old country for eleven years, and 
came to the United States in June, '51, first locating in Milwaukee, 
where he remained about four years, then went to Freeport, Stev- 
ens county, 111., where he remained two years. In '57 he came to 
Iowa and pre-empted land, and in May of the same year he pur- 
chased 160 acres in section 30, eighty acres of which he has since 
sold. The land is now all improved and under fence, and well 
fitted as a stock farm, He keeps about eighty head of cattle on 
the farm, and uses four teams. Was married in '50 in Germany 
to Dora Chabl, and they have three children, Charley, Albert and 
Willie. 

James Stephens, farmer, section 10, owns 160 acres of land; was 
born in '26 in Scotland, and was raised a farmer. In '50 he came 
to the Unitei States, stopping in Winnebago county, ten years, 
and then came to Iowa, and purchased land of the government. 
In '60 he permanently located; the land is now all improved and 



694 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

fenced,an(l fitted in a first-class manner as a stock and dairy farm; 
keeping about thirty head of cattle.* He has filled the office of 
Bchool treasurer about eight year3, since the organization of the in- 
dependent school district. Was married in '56, in Illinois, to El- 
len Radford, and they have three children, Mary, Willie and 
George. 

J. E. Hagerty, farmer, section 9, owns 120 acres of land; was 
born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1829. In his infancy his parents 
moved to Pennsylvania, where he lived with his grandparents un- 
til he was about twelve years old, when he moved to Ohio, and 
later to Indiana. In -62, he enlisted, in Grant county, Wisconsin, 
in company D, Thirtj'^-third Wis. infantry, and served three years, 
and was discharged at Madison, Wis., in '65, having participated 
with his regiment in the battles at Nashville, Spanish Fort, Fort 
Blakeley and Red river; he was slightly wounded by a minie ball, 
at Vicksburg. In '66 he came to Iowa, and purchasing land, has 
eince lived here and improved his farm, which is fitted io"v stock 
purposes, with a herd of twenty head of cattle and three horses. 
Was married in April, '68, in this county, to Miss Holcomb, and 
their children are. May, Jane and Nellie. Mr. H. is a member of 
the G. A. R. post, at Fredericksburg. 

Allen Simons, farmer, section 30, owns 160 acres of land; was 
born in Berkshire count}', Mass., in '26, and was raised on a farm. 
In '48, he moved to Connecticut, and engaged in blacksmithing. 
But, in '55, he came to Iowa, and purchased 160 acres of land, of 
the government, about seventy acres of which is under plough, 
and all is well fenced and fitted for stock and dairy purposes, he 
having, on an average, thirty -five head of cattle and five horses. 
Was married in January, '53, in Connecticut, to Jane Struble, and 
their five children are named, Hattie, Edwin, Vinnal Wilbur and 
Mar3\ 

Charles Lathrop, farmer, section 18, owns eighty acres of land,' 
was born in July, 1818, at Granby, Mass., Avhere he worked in a 
factory and paper mill. In the spring of '62 he moved to La- 
Salle county, 111., and in '66 came to Iowa, and purchased the 
land he now owns. It is thoroughly improved, and fitted for a 
stock and dairy farm. Was married in August, '54, at West 
Springfield, Mass., to Susan Hutchinson, and their children are, 
Lucinda, Charles M. and Henry. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY B10GKAPH1E8. 695 

» 

John Kerssen, fanner, section 17, owns eeventy ucres of land; 
was born in '52 in Germany, where he was raised on a farm, ;ind 
engaged also at brick making. In the Bpring of '68 became totlie 
United States, settling at Kenosha, Wis., and engaged at farm la- 
bor. In March, 77, he came to Iowa and settleil on land that he 
had pvirchased three years previous. Was married in '77 toEliza- 
betli Toynton, and they have three children, Herman, Henrj' and 
Katie. 

W, W. Pike, farmer, section 7, P. O. W'illiamstown. owns 125 
acres of land; was born at North Adams, Mass., in '25. Came to 
loAva in '55, locating where he now resides; he ]jurcbasing part of 
hie land of the government. The land is all thoroughly improv- 
and fitted for stock and dairy purposes. Was married in Massa- 
chusetts, in '53, to Emily Hutchinson, and their two children are 
Ella and Nettie. 

J. B. Lihderman, farmer, section 2, owns ninety acres of land; 
was born in '30, in Tom})kins county, N. Y., and he came to Iowa 
in '62, and located where he now resides; his land is well improv- 
ed, and under cultivation. Was iiiarried in '51, in Illinois, to 
Mrs. Mary Large, and their three children are Herbert, Nellie and 
Minnie. 



-596 CHICKASAW COUNTY BTOGRAPHIES. 



FREDERICKSBURG TOWNSHIP. 



John Waggoner, farmer, section, 14, P. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 
eighty acres of land, valued at S20 perac^e; was born in Germany 
in '45, and is the eldest son of Thomas ;md Mary Waggoner. At 
the age of three his parents immigrated to America, and engaged 
in farming in Wisconsin. Mr. W. remained in that state until '70, 
when he removed to Chickasaw county, and with the exception of 
two years spent in Bremer county, has made it his home. Was 
married to Euphelia Ifallett, in '6o, by whom he had one child, 
William E. His wife died in the spring of '67. and in '70 he was 
married to Almira .Mower, a native of Wisconsin. She is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist church. The subject of this sketch is a mem- 
•ber of the Masonic fraternity, and of the G. A. R. Enlisted in '62 
in the twenty-third, Wisconsin, volunteer infantry, under Colon?l 
Guppy. Participated in the seige of Vicksburg, Arkahsns Post 
and Kangaroo Bayou, at the latter of which he was taken i)rison- 
er, and remained in durance vile four weary months, before he 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 597 

was exchanged. Afterwards he went through Texas, accompany- 
ing the expedition up Red River, and was at the battle of Pleasant 
Hill and Kane River, and was finally discharged at Mobile, Ala., 
in '65, after participating in the battles of Ft. Morgan, Ft. Blakely 
and Spanish Fort. 

Peter Case, postmaster, Fredericksburg; was born in Somerset 
county, N. J., in '26. While he was yet an infant, his parents 
moved to Rochester, N. Y., where he grew to manhood. In '51, 
he immigrated to the state of Wisconsin, and locating in Dodge 
county, resided there for four years. From thence, in '55. he re- 
moved to this count}'^, and settled in this township until '61, when 
he moved into the village, and was appointed postmaster the same 
year, a position which he still retains. He was raised a farmer, 
which occupation he followed until his 1-emoval to the village. 
Mr. C. was so unfortunate as to lose a limb, in his early manhood 
by a white swelling. He. has been town clerk for twenty-four 
years, and is a stanch republican in politics. Was married in '61, 
to Amy Jeannette Eager, a native of Oneida county, N. Y., and 
the have two children, named, Helena Josephine and Florence 
Ijibbie. 

J. K. Cornell, farmer, section 14, P.. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 165 
acrco of land, valued at $35 per acre; was born in Canada West in 
'22, and is the second son of Moses and Mary Cornell. When he 
was twenty-nine j^ears old he left Canada, and settled in Boone 
€0urt3% 111., and lived there until '61, when he moved to Delaware 
county, Iowa, where he remained until '59, when he came to 

Chickasaw county, and since been a resident here. Was married 

in '42 to Sallie Paj'^son, a native of New York, and they have 

eleven children, Minerva H., Mary E., James B., Martha A., Har- 

riette T., Melissa A., Sarah, Eva and Efiie E., twins, Bertha and 

William. They have lost four children, Moses, Emma, Orran and 

Orion, twins. 

Charles Mabie, farmer, section 21, P. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 
200 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in '28 in New 
York state, and is the oldest son of Aaron and Amy Mabie. When 
he was ten years old his parents removed to Pennsylvania, and 



598 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

after a stay of four years came west to Boone county, 111., where 
they lived twenty-one years. From there they went to Bremer 
county, Iowa, then to Chickasaw county, where he remained eight 
years. In 71 he made his permanent settlement where he now 
resides. Was married in '53 to Elmira. Cangdon, a native of New 
York state, and they have two children, Ida L. and J. L. The 
subject of this sketch has been justice of the peace for Fredericks- 
burg township four years. He and his family are members of the 
Baptist church. 

R. W. Kidder, farmer, section 17, P. 0. Fredericksburg,, owns 
240 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Vermont in 
'33, and is the second son of George F. and Clarissa Kidder. When 
he was five years old his parents moved west to Cook county, 111.^ 
where he lived until he was twenty-five year; of age, when he re- 
moved to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and has been a resident of the 
county since. Was married in '60 to Hannah Marsh, a native of 
of Ohio, lind they have five children, Edwin G., Alice M., Samuel 
M., Kitty J. and Ralph W. The subject of this sketch has held 
the office of township assessor lor five years. In '62 he enlisted in 
the thirty-eighth Iowa volunteer infantry, Col. Hughes command- 
ing, and participated in the seige of Vicksburg, and was finally 
discharged at Houston, Texas, in '65. 

John S. Buck, farmer, section 7, P. O. and residence Fredericks- 
burg, owns 1482 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; was born in 
Washington county, N. Y., in '28, and is the eldest son of Anson 
and Maria Buck. When he was eight years old his parents re- 
moved to Oswego county, N. Y., and remained until he was nine 
years of age, when they moved to Kane, county, 111., where he 
lived until '75, when he removed to Chickasaw county, where he 
has resided ever since. Was married in '74 to' Frances Benthuy- 
een, a native of Illinois, and they have two children, Anson H. 
and Sarah M. Mr. B. also has a married daughter residing in 
Illinois. 

J. H. Benedict, farmer, section 12, Fredericksburg, owns 240 
acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in '40, in the state 
of New York, and is the fourth son of Hiram and Sallie Benedict. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 599 

When fifteen years old he came west with his parents and settled 
in Fredericksburg, Chickasaw county, Iowa, and has been a resi- 
dent since. Was married in '68 to Elinor Lyman, a native of Ne\r 
York, and they have two children, Winnie J, and William H. 
Mr. Benedict is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has served a3 
township collector one term. 

J. H. Herrick, farmer, section 2, P. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 245 
acres of land, valued at $25, per acre; was born in the state of New 
York, in '27, and is the second son of Leonard and Sarah Herrick. 
In '65 he left New York, and settled on the place where he now 
resides. He was married in '48 to Elizabeth Eldrett, a native of 
England, and they have four children, John D., Anna A., William 
G. and George B. They have also an adopted daughter, Anna B. 
The subject of this sketch and his wife are members of the Bap- 
tist churgh. 

John B. Clark, farmer, section 4, P. O. Fredericksburg, owns 160 
acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Scotland, in 1837, 
and is the only son of Robert and Susan Clark. When he was 19 
years old he left Scotland and came to America and settled in 
Illinois, near Chicago, living there five years, and in 1861 removed 
to Missouri where he remained until 1864, when he returned to 
Illinois and stayed till 1869; and in that year removed to Iowa 
and has been a resident since. He was married in 1858 to Jane 
Harrington, a native of England, and has nine children: Robert 
L., David B., John H., Horace G., Susan J., Anna, Alfred T., 
Ernest and Jennie. Mr. Clark is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, and his wife and himself are both members of the M. E. 
Church. Mr. Clark served one year in the home guard in Missouri 
and two years in the 9th Missouri Cavalry, participating in the 
battles of Hartsville and Grand River, and was finally discharged 
at St. Louis, in 1864. 

Milo L. Sherman, dealer in general merchandise, business es- 
tablished in 1868; was born in Kane county. 111., in 1839, Sept. 2d, 
where he lived on a farm with his parents until 1861, when he en- 
listed as a private in company 'I,' 52d Illinois Infantry. He was 
severely wounded in October, 1862, and promoted to a non-com- 
missioned office and was discharged in 1864. Re-enlisted as a 



600 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

veteran and was again discharged, at Chicago, March 23, 1865, and 
returned to his home, near Elgin, where he taught school one term 
and then came to Fredericksburg, in October '65, engaging as a 
clerk with Haskett and Sherman. Continued with them, until 
February, '68, when he engaged in business for himself, on a small 
scale, from which he has continually increased to its present di- 
mension. In October, '61, he was married to Maria Buck, also a 
native of Kane county. 111., and has one child whose name is 
Clarence H. 

L. F. Howe, proprietor of the hotel and farmer, was born in 
Lorraine county, Ohio, in 1824,- where he resided until '53, when 
he removed to Boone county 111. ; from thence in '57, went to 
Owatonna, Minnesota, which place he made his home for eleven 
years. In '68, he came to this town; and in '79 he took charge of 
the present hotel. Enlisted in March, '65, i i company 'E' First 
Minnesota Infantry and served until the close of the war. In '49 
he married Mary Tisdale, who was born in Cattaraugus county, N. 
Y» and has six children:* Agnes, Ella, Lillian, Frank, Minnie and 
Hattie, He has been a carpenter and builder as well as a farmer, 
and was one of the first settlers in Owatonna, and was engaged in 
building most of the time while there. 

L. Padden, farmer and proprietor of the Creamery, owns 500 
acres of land, wliich is valued at S25 per acre. He was born in 
Pennsylvania, in '46. In his infancy, he removed, with his par- 
ents, to Astabula county, Ohio, and when he was nine years of age, 
came to this county with liis mother, locating in this township^ 
where he has since remained, engaged in faiming, general merchan- 
dise and various other businesses. In February, '64, he enlisted 
in company 'F,' 9th Iowa Infantry and served some eighteen 
months, participating in several battles, and marched with Sher- 
man, in his march to the sea, which was a continual skirmish. 
He married Clara Tisdale, a native of Iowa, and they have four 
children: Johnnie, Nellie, Harry and an infant. Mr. Padden is a 
staunch Republican in politics. 

G. W. Bolton, dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware, which 
business he established in '78; was born in Troy, Rensselaer 
county, N. Y., in '51, where he remained until' 61, when he came 



<:hioka8aw county bioguaphiks. 601 

west with his parents, and settled in this county. He came to the 
vilhige of Fredericksburg in 76. His early life was spent on a 
farm and in learning the trade of tinner, which latter business he 
followed until he engaged in his present business. In 75 he was 
married to Alice L. Hale, a native of Bremer county, this state, 
and they have two children, Lida May and Hale. 

John Morf,. farmer, section 24, P. O. Kidgefield, owns 160 acres 
of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Switzerland, in '48, 
and is the fourth son of Henry and Margeretta Morf. When he 
was twenty-five years old he left the old country and came to 
America, settling in Stapleton township, this county, where he 
lived four years, and then removed to this township, and has been 
a resident ever since. He was married, in 74, to Lena Weber 
also a native of Switzerland, and they have four children, J, H., 
George, .Rudolph and Leonza. He and his wife are members of 
the Congregational church. 

Eldridge L. (jilbert, l"armer,section 7, P. O. Fredericksburg, owns 
80 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; was born in Lock county, 
Wis., in 184J,and is the eldest son of Lovell R. and Clarissa 
Gilbert. When 15 years old he left Wisconsin and settled in 
Clayton county, Iowa, where he resided fourteen years, then came 
to Chickysaw county, and has lived there since. He was married 
in '57 to Rebecca M. Bishop and has three children: Louie, Lovell 
R. and Walter B. 

Wm. J, Colt, I'armer, section 28, P. O. Fredericksburg, owns 440 
acres of land valued at $25 per acre. Was born in New York in 
'31. He is the second son of Wm. J. jind Elizabeth S. Cult. Wlien 
he was 21 years old he left N. Y. and came to Walworth county, 
Wis., where he remained one year. Then, in '58, he removed to 
Belvidere, HI., remained there one year, and removed to DeKalb 
county, 111., and staid till '63. From there he went to Franklin 
county, Iowa, remained two years, then went to Nashua, staid four 
years, and in '69 came to Fredericksburg township of which he 
has since been a resident. Worked as a carriiigx- maker until he 

came to the'I>urg.' He was first married in '56 to Lucy Armstrong, 

of New York. They had three children: Henry B., Herman and 

Wm. J. His wife died in '66, and in '67 he married Margaret. 



602 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Mahona, vrho died in '69. lu February, 70, he married Rhoda 
Martin, a native of Canada. They have two children: Loretta U. 
C, Arel E. Mr. Colt has been school director and treasurer for 
ten years; also township trustee. Has been a member of the 
' Baptist church for twenty years. 

Patrick Harvey, farmer, section 32, P. O. Fredericksburg, owns 
240 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Ireland in 
'32, and is the youngest son of Patrick and Mary Harvey. When 
he was sixteen years old he came to America and settled in West- 
chester county, N. Y., where he learned the trade of hatter. Re- 
mained there 8 years and in '58^ removed to Bremer county, Iowa, 
of which place he waB a resident until '72, when he came to 
Chickasaw county, and located on the farm where he now lives, in 
Fredericksburg township. He was married in '58, to Mary Lacy, 
a native, also, of Ireland, and has nine children: John L., Patrick 
F., Catherine J-, Mary A., Pierce., Joseph E., Benedict, Rosanna 
and William. Mr. Harvey has been town trustee and school 
treasurer. He and family are all members of the Roman Catholic 
church. 

Patrick Nolan, farmer, section 34, P. O. Fredericksburg, owna 
480 acres of land valued at $15 per acre; was born in Ireland in 
1820 and is the eldest son of Wm. and Bridget Nolan. When 22 
years old, he left Ireland and came to America and located in N. 
Y. in '43. Remained there and in Pennsylvania and Vermont fif- 
teen years, working at the trade of founder and moulder, and in 
'59 came west to Iowa and located in Stapleton township, Chicka- 
saw county, where he lived until '82, when he removed to Fred- 
ericksburg, locating on the farm he now resides on. He was married 
in '51, to Elizabeth Armstrong, a native of Ireland, and has nine 
children: William, Catharine, James, Francis, Alice, Thomas, 
Stephen, Maria and Peter. He has been school director, road 
supervisor and town treasurer. The family are all members of 
the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Nolan is also the owner of 220 
acres of land in section 31, Stapleton township, valued at $20 per 
acre. 

Wm. A. Robinson, farmer, section 33, P. 0. Sumner, owns 120 
acres of land, valued at $27 per acre; was born in Rochester, N. 
Y., in 1853, and is the eldest son of Benjamin and Mary Robinson. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 603 

When he was very young, his parents left New York and came 
west to Illinois, where he lived until he was nine years old, when 
they removed to Bremer county, Iowa, and remained there till '77, 
when he removed to Chickasaw county, and located on the farm 
where he now lives. He was married in 77, to Eleanor Dawson, a 
native of England and they have one child: Frank R. Mr. Rob- 
inson is a member of the A. 0. U. W. 

John H. Ellison, farmer, section 8, P. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 
160 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Indiana, in 
'44, and is the second son of Darius and Hannah Ellison. When 
he was twelve years old he left Indiana and settled in Minnesota, 
where he remained until '67, when he removed to Iowa and settled 
in Chickasaw county, where he has since resided. Was married 
in '70, to Rinda Eager. They have two children: Irving and 
Lillian. Ehlisted in '64 in the 11th Minnesota Vol. Infantry; 
Colonel G'ilfillan. Was discharged in '65 at Gallatin, Tenn." Mr. 
Ellison is a member of the G. A. R. 

J. M. Ferris, farmer, section 6, P. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 140 
acres of land valued at $30 per acre. Was born in Chenango 
county, N. Y. in '23. Is the oldest son of Benjamin and Lydia 
Ferris. He left N. Y. when he was 33 years old, and came to 
Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he has since resided. He was 
married iri '54 to Miranda M. Fish, of New York. They have 
three children: Frankie L., Flora C. and Arthur F. He has held 
the office of J. P. 

Thomas Trewin, farmer, section 2, P. 0. Lawler, owns 160 acres 
valued at $25 per acre. He was born in England in '42, and is 
the eldest son of Henry and Mary A. Trewin. When eight years 
old he left England, with his parents, and came to America and 
located in Illinois, where he remained until '72, when he came to 
Iowa and settled in Chickasaw county, of which place he has been 
a resident since. Was married in '72 to Martha Cornell, a native 
of Canada, and has 5 children: Ada A., Ervin, Guy, Earl and 
Howard. Mr. Trewin is a member of the Masonic and I. 0. 0. F. 
orders. 

R. L. Schoonover, farmer, section 23, P. 0. Fredericksburg, owns 
160 acres of land; was born in Indiana, in 1843, and is the fourth 



604 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



son of John and Mary Schoonover. When he was three years of 
age, his parents moved to Jetferson county, Wis., where he resid- 
ed twenty-six years, but in 1871, he removed to Iowa, and located 
near Frank ville, Winnesheik county. He remained here some 
four years and then removed to Chickasaw county. He was mar 
ried, in 1869, to Cleopha Weston, a native of New York, and they 
have five children, Etta E., Mary M., Da-\dd E., Clara B. and 
John G. 




mm^ 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 605 



DAYTON TOWNSHIP. 



Hon. James F. Babcock, section 12, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 
350 acres land valued at $40 per acre. He was born in Stuben 
■ county, Ohio, in '33. When he was two years of age his parents 
removed to Lake county, Ohio, where young James grew to man- 
hood, being raised on a farm and receiving his education at the 
common schools. When he reached his 21st birthday he started 
west and his first location was in Fayette county where he engaged 
in farming for a period of 12 years; two years of which time he 
was sheriff of that county and for a number of years was United 
States Provost Martial for this district. In '66 he came to New 
Hampton and opened the Pioneer Drug Store of this place and 
conducted the same until 77 when he sold out and purchased the 
farm upon which he now resides. Mr. Babcock is an extensive 
breeder of Holstein cattle and Hambletonian horses and may be 
said to be one of the most successful farmers of Chickasaw county 
Although not an office seeker Mr. B. has been chosen to fill the 



606 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

position of Representative in the State Legislature — has been a 
member of the county board and was the first Mayor of New 
Hampton. He was married to Mary L. Robinson, a native of 
Susquehanna county, Penn., and they have three children: Harris 
B., James F. and Mary L. 

William H. Cook, farmer, section 33, township of Dayton, 
Chickasaw county, Iowa, owns 80 acres of land, 43 of which are 
under cultivation. Mr. Cook was born in New Jersey, in '31. In 
'66 he came west and located on sections 30 and 31 in this county. 
In '76 he moved onto his j^resent loc.ition. During the war of 
the Rebellion Mr. Cook served his country in the 58th Pennsylva- 
nia Volunteer Infantry, where he held a commission as orderly 
sergeant. Was enlisted April 16th, '61 and was honorably dis- 
charged January 24th, '66. He is a member of the G. A. R., and 
in politics he figures with the Republican party. He was united 
in marriage to Susan Shank, a native of Pennsylvania. They 
have a family of three children: John S., Samuel E. and a mar- 
ried daughter named Mrs. Mary Smith. They have lost one son 
by death, Wm. H. Jr., who died at Bismark, Dakota, May 30th, 
1883. 

L. B. Davison, section 11, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 320 acres 
land, valued at $30 per acre. He was born in New York, in '37, 
and came west in '49, since which time he has made his home in 
nine different states and has lived on his present farm since '75. 
Married E. J. Annabel in '60 and they have nine children: Clara, • 
aged twenty -two years, Mary J., aged seventeen, Belle, aged four- 
teen. Bertha, aged eleven, C. W., aged nine, J. L., aged six, Hulda, 
aged four and Nina, aged two. They have one child by adoption 
named Coral Dickerson, aged eleven years. Mr. Davison has held 
the office of town clerk, member of school board and is consider- 
able of a i^olitician. 

John Mulvyhill, farmer, section 15, owns 133 acres of land. 
Born in county Kerry, Ireland, went to Canada, in spring of 1851 
and came to U. S. in '56, and settled at this place, purchased the 
land which is now fitted for stock, and is we.l improved. In '54 
he married Mary Murphy, a native of Canada, and their children 
are: Daniel, Johnnie, Dennis, Thomas, James, William, Margaret 
and Mary Ann. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 607 

George Crooks, farmer, section 29, owns 440 acres of land, 175 
acres of which is under cultivation, his farm is thoroughly fitted 
for stock raising; luxuriant pastures and extensive barns help to 
make it a model farm. Mr. C. makes a specialty of stocK raising. 
He was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, December 12, '25, and 
came to America in '44, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he 
remained until '56, when he again moved west, this time to Chick- 
asaw county, and engaged in farming, with limited means, from 
which he has arisen to his present prosperous condition. In j^oli- 
tics he is a republican, and has served as township trustee several 
years, which position he is holding at the present time (1883). 
He was married to Margaret Smith, a native of Ireland, and they 
have seven children, Jane, James H., Sarah, Margaret, Nettie and 
George W. 

Jacob Hochspeier, farmer, section 9, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 
360 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; was born in Germany 
in '29, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Hockspeier. The sub- 
ject of our sketch came* to America in '49, and his first location 
was in New York city, where he worked at his trade of tailoring 
for three and one-half years; in '52 he came west and settled in 
Stephenson county, 111., and two years later he came to this county 
and settled in Washington township; he soon after returned to 111., 
and for a number of years was engaged in the furniture business. 
In '60 he again returned to Chickas'Bw county, and purchased the 
farm on which he now resides. He married Appy Kehm, of Ger- 
many, and they have six children, Margaret, Elizabeth, Lena, 
Appy, Jacob and Fred. They are all members of the Evangelical 
church. 

Gerard Krieger, farmer, owns 500 acres of land; was born in 
Germany, in '22, where he learned the trade of carpenter, and 
came to the United States in '47, and worked in St. Louis, Mo. one 
year, and farmed and worked at his trade in different parts of the 
state for the next five years. Then he came to Iowa, and lived at 
Davenport, Scott county, five years, then purchased land in that 
county, living there twenty years; he finally sold out there and 
came to this county, and purchased land. His home farm in 
Dayton township is thoroughly improved and fitted for stock 
farming. A fine residence and barn add to the natural beauty of 
the place. Two of his sons, John and William, operate the farm 



608 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

in New Hampton township. Another son, Theodore assisting his 
father in the management of the home farm. Mr. K. was married 
in Missouri to Mary Ann Brus, and their children are John T., 
William, Theodore A. and Elizabeth A, 

Mathias Miller, farmer, section 5, owns eighty acres of land; 
was born in Germany in 1830, and came to the United States in 
'52, settling first in Ohio, and came to Iowa in '69 and bought 
land where he now resides, which he has thoroughly improved, 
and fitted for the stock and dairy business. Married in '69 to 
Catherine Lentz, and their children are ^laggie, Katie, Mathias, 
Johnnie and Henry. 

C. E. Dauty, section 35, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 120 acres of 
land, valued at S25 per acre; was born in the state of Maine in '47 
and in '69 he moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in '73 came 
to Iowa, and settled on his present farm. Mr. D. has been town- 
ship trustee for three years; he married Almeda H. Adams, also a 
native of Maine, and they have two small childre n. Frank E. and 
Cora L. 

H. H. Rekers, farmer, section 16, owns 230 acres of land; was 
born May, 1850, in Elgin, 111., and came to Iowa with his parents 
in '55, in '70 they went to Black Hawk county, this state, and in 
'81 settled here, when he purchased the land abova described, 
which is now well improved, and thoroughly fitted as a stock and 
dairy farm, situated on the middle Wapsie river. Married Sarah 
Byrank, and they have two children, Charlej' and Ella. 

E. A. Sweet, P. 0. Ionia, owns 265 acres of land, valued at 825 
per acre; was born in Fulton county, N. Y., in 1830, and moved 
to Dane county. Wis., in '57, where he lived eight years, and from 
which place he emigrated to Chickasaw county. Married Sarah 
E. Kmg, in the state of New York, and they have six children, 
Erwin, John, Fred, Pratt, Blanche and Lettie. Mr. S. has held 
the office of assessor, road supervisor and township trustee for 
many years. 

J. \V. Snyder, section 24, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 180 acres 
of land, valued at 830 per acre; was born in Center county, Penn., 
in 1847, when seven years of age he removed with his parents to 
Stephenson county. 111., where he remained until "70, when he 
came to Iowa, and soon after located on his present farm. Was 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 609 

married to Mary Lichtenvvalner of Pennsylvania, and they have 
four children, John P., Nellie E., Percy J. and Sarah G. Mr. S. 
enlisted in company K, sixteenth Wisconsin volunteer infantry ,in 
'64; and served two years. Was in the battles of Kenasaw moun- 
tain, Atlanta, and a number of skirmishes; he has been township 
trustee three years. 

Geo. McCaughey, section 23, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 200 
acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Stark county, 
Ohio, in 1821, and is a son of Robert and Mary McCaughey. In 
'51 he left Stark county, and came west to Green county, Wis., re- 
maining there until '63 when he removed to this county, locating 
on his present farm in '68. Mr. C. has been a member of the 
county board of supervisors four years. Was married to Martha 
C. Jackson, in '44, who died in '47, and was again married in '53 
to Margaret A. White of Ashland, Ohio. The subject of our 
sketch is th^ father of nine children, Mary E., Samuel W., Hattie, 
Frank H., Sarah Jane, Geo., Isaac A., Edwin and Martha. 



610 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



BRADFORD TOWNSHIP. 



George K. Smith, farmer, section 27. has 252 acres of land. His 
farm is beautifully located about four and a half miles southeast 
of the prosperous town of Nashua and situated as it is upon the 
rise of ground just east of the Cedar river, with its gently undulat- 
ing surface and fine buildings, makes it one of the most beautiful 
and valuable farms in this section of country. Mr. Smith is a 
progressive farmer. In "S2 he erected a fine residence on this 
place, the size of which is, main building. 16x26 feet. 16 feet posts; 
east wing, 26x14 feet, 10 feet posts, and the north addition is 16x 
16 feet with eight feet posts. In 'So he erected a fine new barn at 
a big expense, the size of which is 40x62 feet, with 20 feet posts, 
and a basement of S^ feet deep, whicli will stable 24 head of cat- 
tle, and 14 head of hoi-ses, and will hold something over 100 tons 
of hay, and an oat bin with a capacity of about 500 bushels; be- 
sides these buildings he has all the necessary out buildings, sucli 
as corn cribs, granaries, etc., making in all one of the finest equip- 
ped farms in this vicinity. Mr. Smith is a native of Germany. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY EIOGRAPHIE?. 611 

where he was born May 9, '40. At the age of six yeai-s he came to 
America with liis pannts, and located in New Jei-sey, after which 
he removed to Illinois, where he remained about ten yeai-s, ilience 
to Black Hawk county. Iowa, where he resided some tive years. 
In 71 he came to Chickasaw county and engaged in fanning. In 
politics he figures with the Republicaft party. During the rebel- 
lion he volunteered his services, and eidisted in company A. lo6th 
Illinois voltinteer infantry, and was honorably discharged and 
mustered out at Chicago, Illinois. Was united in marriage to 
Elizabeth Black, a native of the state of New York, and their fam- 
ily consists of four children. Cora, Clara. May and Gcoi-ge D. 

Robert Wilson, fai-mer, section 2S, owns eighty-seven acres of 
land. Is a native of Scotland, where he was born in '15, and in 'oo 
came to America and located in Duchess county. X. Y.. and in 
"58 removed to Bradford, Iowa, and engaged in farming: he then 
removed to Bremer couutv. where lie remained some six veai-s. 
when he again movcxl back to Chickasaw county. He is a mem- 
ber of the Dutch Reform church, and was united in marriasre to 
Mary Dobie, of Dumfries, county, Scotland, and their family con- 
sists of six children, James (who served in the rebellion in the 
ninth Iowa infamrv. and was wbunded at the battle of Pea Ridi^e, 
Ark.. John D.. Robert, Mary J.. Ina and Elizabeth. 

George Erenest, farmer, sections 13 and 14, owns eighty acres in 
each seotion, all fenced. Is a native of New York state, wliere he 
was born in ■2.5, and in '52 he came west to lo^ra, and settled in 
Chickasaw countv, and he has since been a resident. His farm is 
beauttfully situated, and well improved for stock and dairy pur- 
poses. At the time of his settlement on the above place tliere was 
no house between this place and West Union on the road, and his 
market was McGregor, of which he relates many interesting epi- 
sodes he nas exjierienced, in coming and going to market in those 
days. Failing health has compelled him to adandon hard labor, 
but he is still one of the active, representative men of this county. 
^^'as united in marriage to Sarah Tallman, a native of Canada. 

Elmore Smith, fanner, section ten, Bradford township; was born 
in Litchfield county, Conn., in November, "29, and in "50 he came 
west to Iowa, and located in Bremer county, where he remained • 
but a short time, when he came to I'.radford and engaged in tlie 



612 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Lumber trade. Mr. S. is by profession a practical engineer, and 
followed that business for some time. Was united in marriage to 
Harriet Boland, a native of New York state, and their family con- 
sists of one son and two daughters, named, Walter D., Alice L. 
and Laura. 

L. S. McCreaiy, farmer, section 28, owns 320 acres of land, 240 
acres of which is under cultivation. The subject of this sketch is 
a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in the year '32, and 
in '55 he came west and settled in Dubuque county, Iowa, where 
he remained one3^ear, when he returned to Pennsylvania for one 
year. In '57 he again came west and located in Bradford, where 
he followed his occupation, that of carpenter, in which line he 
continued until ho engaged in farmii^g, on the above place. In 
politics he is a Republican, and has held most of the minor offices 
within the gift of the people, and is one of the jDrominent and pop- 
ular men of the town. Was united in marriage to Susan Gilli- 
land, a native of Indiana, and their family consists of two daugh- 
ters, Rosalind and Clara E. 

L. P. Hanson, farmer, section 2, owns 240 acres of land, all of 
which is under cultivation: he has just erected (1883) a fine new 
barn, at a cost of $1,000, the size of which is 30x65 feet, with a 
corn c:ib addition, all of which is to be well painted, and when 
completed will be one of the finest barns in his vicinity. ' He is a 
native of Denmark, where he was born in '49, and in '69 lie came 
to America and settled in Chickasaw county, where he engaged in 
in farming, and has sipce continued in that line. Was united in 
marriage to Susan E. Cagley, a native of Indiana, and they have 
four children, Freddie, Maudie, Andrew and an infant. 

William Layliu, farmer, section 21 , owns 220 acres of land, and 
his farm is well fitted for stock and dairy purposes. The subject 
of our sketch is a native of the state of Ohio, where he was born in 
'24, and came west in '48, and located in Illinois, thence to Califor 
nia, and in '59 to Bremer county, Iowa, Avhere he remained some 
fourteen years' thence to Chickasaw county, where he has since 
been engaged in farming. He is one of the directors of the Brad- 
ford creamery, and one of the originators of the same. In politics 
he is a republican, and has held various minor township offices. 

He has been married three times, the first time to Mary Fish, by 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 613 

whom he had three children, Mary J., Julia V. and Charles W. 
His second marriage was to Eliza DePugh, and the third time he 
was united in marriage to Catharine Chambers, of Chickasaw 
county. 

W. A. McMillan, proprietor Farmers' Home hotel and board- 
ing house, Nashua, Iowa, restaurant in connection; also proprietor 
of pump and windmill warehouse; was born in Canada West in 
the year '51, and while an infant came to the United States with 
his parents, and located in Illinois, where they remained some 
five years, and thence to Preston, Fillmore county, Minn, thence 
to Howard county, where he engaged in brickmaking, and after- 
wards engaged in the pump business. He next moved to Nashua, 
Iowa- where he engaged in the pump and windmill business. In 
politics he is a republican. Was united in marriage to Ada A. 
Bauder, a native of Iowa, and they have two children, Minnie A. 
and Leanis W., and have lost two by death. 

J. E. Graham, of the firm of Graham Brothers, blacksmiths, 
Nashua, Iowa, took charge of the business May 15, '82, and makes 
a specialty of horse shoeing and plow work. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Fond-du-lac county, Wis., in '55, where he 
learned the blacksmith trade, from there he went to Charles City, 
Iowa, and eno;aged in the above line of trade as a journeyman; 
thence to Montana, and Dakota, where he was in the employ of 
the railroad company, after which he embarked in business for 
himself, at Greene, Iowa, and thence to Nashua, at the time he 
started business. Was married to Sarah Strawney, a native of 
Iowa. 

P. W. Ledyard, of the firm of Ledyard & Scott, proprietors of 
the Nashua livery, Nashua, Iowa., keep first-class rigs always on 
hand, and no labor spared to please the patronizing public; busi- 
ness established in February, '78. Mr. L. was born in the state of 
Ohio, October 8, '54, and came west in '71 and located in Winne- 
sbeik county, Iowa, thence to Atlantic, Cass couuty, thence to 
Butler county, and from there to Waverly, Bremer county, after 
which he again removed to Nashua. He established a branch 
stable at New Hampton, where he remained one and a half years, 
Avhen he again returned to Nashua. In politics he is a staunch 
Republican, and is also a member of the masonic fraternity. Wa 



614 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

married to Ettie M. Dana, of New Hampton, and they have two 
sons, Elmer and Gilbert. 

Z. T. Stocks, of the firm of Stocks & (Jo, dealers in foreign and 
American marble and granite, Nashua, Iowa., work executed in all 
the latest designs; established business in '81. Mr. Stocks was 
born in Stephenson county, Illinois, in the year '49, at the age of 
six, he came west with his parents to Chickasaw county, Iowa, 
where he followed farming until '75, when he went to Charles 
City to learn the marble trade, and afterward completed the busi- 
ness in Waterloo, Iowa. In politics he is a Republican. Was 
united in marriage to Mary A. Mitchell of Nashua, and have two 
daughters, Carrie E. and Susan M. 

J. G. Lester, jeweler, Nashua, Iowa, established business in '70; 
was born in England in the year '47, and came to America with 
his parents at the age of one year, and located in Woodstock, 
Canada West, where he remained some time, thence to Michigan, 
and from there to Columbia county, Wis., and in October, '63, he 
came to Iowa and located in Chickasaw county. In politics he 
figures with the democratic party. Is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. 
fraternity, and of the Legion of Honor. Was united in marriage 
to Adelaide Ellis, a native of Michigan, and they have five daugh- 
ters and one son, named Maud, Belle, Richard, Mary, Blanche and 
May. 

J. G. Wright farmer, section 34, owns eighty acres of land, sixty- 
five of which are are under cultivation. Is a native of England, 
where he was born at Norfolk, May 20, '38, and in '51 he came to 
America and located in Rock county, Wis., where he remained 
some time and then removed to Iowa, and located in Floyd coun- 
ty, thence to Chickasaw county, where he located on the above 
place. He served in the army of the rebellion thirteen months in 
company C, thirty-eighth Iowa volunteer infantry, and was hon- 
orably discharged near New Orleans, La., and was mustered out 
there. Is a member of the G. A. R., and has served as school di- 
rector two years. Was united in marriage to Mary C. Huyler, a 
native of Indiana, and they have seven children, George W., 
Freddie M., Arthur, Frank, Robert, Jennie and Walter. 

J. DeNoyelles, proprietor of the Central house, Nashua, Iowa, 
is a native of Schoharie county, N. Y., and in '58 he came west to 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 615 

Wisconsin, and bought land in Dane county, which he farmed for 
eight years, then came to Iowa, and settlad at Cresco, and estab- 
lished himself as proprietor of the De Noyelles house, which he 
conducted for four years, he then sold out to Alex McClasky, and 
engaged in farming for several years in Howard county, and then 
canie to this place and purchased the hotel that he has since con- 
ducted. The Central is the leading hotel in the city, and is the 
oldest established, and is wall patronized, and affords all the com- 
forts and conveniences for the traveling public. Good stables in 
connection with the house. 

E. R. Dickinson, merchant, Bradford, carries a general stock of 
staple goods, established business in '60; was born in Massachu- 
setts, October 6, '29,. Received his education there and remained 
in that state until he came to Iowa, with the exception of two 
winters which he spent in New York clerking for a Mr. George 
Smith; In politics he is a Republican, and has been elected to 
different positions within the gift of the people, such as county 
supervisor, secretary of school board, etc. Is a member of the ma- 
sonic fraternity and was united in marriage to Harriet M. Owen, a 
native of Massachusetts, and they have two children, Clara A. and 
William E. 

Henry Walleser, proprietor wagon and blacksmith shop. Green- 
wood, Iowa, established business in '74; was, born in Baden in 
Germany, in '46, at the age of two years he came to America with 
his parents, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., where he remained 
until '55, when he removed to Clayton county, Iowa, and in '70, 
he agained moved to Chickasaw county, and located in Nashua, 
where he was engaged in the foundry for some time. He served 
in the army one year and fonr months, in company E, twenty- 
seventh Iowa volunteer infantry, and was honorably discharged 
at Montgomery, Alabama, and mustered out there. Was united 
in marriage to Annie F. Dickerman, a native of Clayton county, 
and they have six children Henry, Gertie, Martha, Laura, Eliza- 
beth and Joseph. 

J. P. Parish, dealer in furniture, Nashua, Iowa, established busi 
ness in '77; was born in Washington county, N. Y., in '23, and 
was brought up an architect and builder, by trade. In '45 he 
came west to Wisconsin, and located in Sheboygan, thence he 



616 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

moved to Appleton, where he remained some twenty-eight years. 
He then came to Iowa and located in Chickasaw county, and four 
years afterward he engaged in business as above, In politics he 
is a republican, and has served as one of the city board for five 
years. Is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. fraternity, having passed 
up through the different official chairs in that organization, arid is 
now one of the representative men of Nashua, and one of her most 
successful business men. 

H. T. Dexter, proprietor, "Old Reliable" meat market, Nashua, 
Iowa, the only firs-class meat market in the city, established busi- 
ness in '68. Mr. D. was born in Ohio, in '41, and came west to 
Wisconsin in '53, and located in Columbia county, where he re- 
mained some time, when he came to Iowa, and located in Dayton 
township, Chickasaw county. In politics he figures with the re- 
publicans, and has served as deputy sheriff of the county for four 
years. Was united in marriage to Mary A. I^ester, a native of 
Wisoonsin, and they have three children, named, May, Louisa and 
Nellie. 

Phil McLarnan, farmer, section 19, owns 100 acres, all under 
cultivation, also owns seventy acres in section 32 and sixty acres 
in section 31. The subject of this sketch was born in the state of 
Ohio, in the year 1824, and from there he moved to Indiana, and 
in the year '65 he came to Iowa, and located in Bradford town- 
ship, where he has since been engaged in farming; he has raised 
some fine Morgan horses which have commanded considerable at- 
tention throughout his locality. In politics he is a democrat. He 
was last married to Ann Lee, a native of England, and they have 
three children, Martha, Harrison and Chet. And he has seven 
children by a former wife, named Thomas, Jacob R., Felix, Effiette 
Douglas, Susan and Howard. 

Valentine Kraft, farmer, owns eighty acres, all under cultivation 
and well improved. Is a native of Germany„where he was born in 
'43, and came to America in '60, and located in Indiana. While 

in that state he enlisted and served in the army nineteen months, 
in company C, ninth Indiana infantry, and was honoradly dis- 
charged at Ready ville, Tennessee. After coming out of the army 
he moved to Ohio, where he remained until '65, when he remov- 



CHICKASAW (OUNTY P,I(H;Iv- A I'll lES. 6l7 

fd to Iowa and located in Bradford township, and engaged in farm- 
ing. He has served as school director. Was married to Minnie 
Sippel, a native of Germany, and they have one son, named George 
Henry. 

John Smith, who is located on section 10; Bradford township, 
and owns 160 acres; is a native of the state of Connecticut, where 
he was born in Litchfield county, in 1795, and although time has 
wrapped its mantle of eighty-eight years around him, he still re- 
tains his usual bodily and mental vigor and witli his retentive 
memory talcs as freely of events which occurred in the early jmrt 
of this century as if but a few years ago. His disposition is not a 
roaming one as will be seen by the fact of his having spent sixty 
one years under the same roof. He was drafted in the war of 1812 
but it being so near the closa that he was nev^r called into ser- 
vice. He rode on the first raihoad ever built in the United 
States, which was a line from Albany to Schenectady, N. Y.. a dis- 
tance of sixteen miles. While in Connecticut he received the ap- 
pointment of postmaster, which position he had held for some 
time, and was also a captain in the Connecticut state militia, In 
'56 he took up the line of march toward the setting sun and came 
to the Hawkeye state, and settled in Bremer county, where he re- 
mained some years, when he removed to Bradford where he en- 
gaged in the lumber business, and continued in that line until he 
came on the above place. Was united in nuirriage to Betsey 
Chamberlain, a native of Vermont, and they have had a family of 
thirteen children, ten of which arrived at man or wonumhood, 
among them are three sons now over sixty years of age. 

William Lay ton, farmer, section 28, owns 300 acres of land, 200 
of which are under cultivation, and finely improved for stock and 
dairy farming. INIr. L. makes a specialty of raising blooded cat- 
tle and fine hoa'ses, having some as fine specimens of registered 
cattle as can Ije iound an\'where, and his Norman horses in [>oint 
of excellence are hard to be equaled in this section of the country; 
he now (1883) has som3 eighteen head of these horses, among 
which is a mare weighing 1,700 pounds, a beautiful black, and a 

perfect model of a horse in every way. Mr. L. is a native of York 

shire, England, where he was born, December 30, '27, and in '52 

he came to America, and located in Steuben county, N. Y., where 



61<S CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

he remained some three years, when he moved to Marengo, 111., 
where he remained one year, and in the spring of '56 he came to 
Bradford, where he engaged in mason work in company with his 
brother, and in about '59 located on the above farm, where he has 
since resided. Was united in marriage to Elizabeth Perkins, a na- 
tive of Indiana, and they have four children, A. Thelbert,Willard, 
May and Minnie. 

R. H. Layton, farmer, section 21, owns 356 acrfes of land. Is a 
native of Yorkshire, England, where he was born in '29, and in '52 
he came to America, and located in New York, where he remained 
some six months, thence to Chicago, 111., and from there to Rock- 
ford, same state, where he remained for a period of twelve months 
when he moved to Dubuque. Iowa, where he was employed some 
eight months, when he went to Independence. In '54 he volun- 
teered to goto Clear Lake, which was then on the frontier, and as- 
sist in driving the Indians backj who had been committing some 
depredations, and after remaining there for some time he returned 
to Dubuque, and then to McHenry county, 111., where he worked 
at his trade, that of stone mason. His next move was to Bradford 
this state, where he remained some three years, and again took up 
the line of march westward, and went to Pike':^ Peak, Col., and 
California, where he remained about seven years. While in Cali- 
fornia he enlisted in company — first California volunteer infan- 
try, under General Wright, and Captain Lyman. While in the 
service he was appointed corporal, and afterwards promoted to 
second sergeant, and was honorably discharged at the expiration 
of his term of enlistment. After his discharge he again came back 
to Chickasaw county, where he followed his trade, after woicli he 
located on the above farm. In politics he figures with the repub- 
lican party, and has filled minor offices, such as school director, 
etc. Was united in marriage to Mary M. Gilliland, a native of In- 
diana, and they have three daughters and one son,Leonard, Ethel 
R., Celia and Jessie. 

John Snouse, merchant tailor, Nashua, business established De- 
cember 12, '69. He is a native of the state of Ohio, where he was 
born in '43. Received his early education there, and also learned 
his trade there. In '()Q he came west and located in Dubuque, 
this state, where he remained until engaging in business as above. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 617 

He served in the army two and a half years, in company G, forty- 
fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. While in Kentucky he received a 
severe wound, which is still, after twenty years, a continual source 
of annoyance, and at times almost disables him from active pur- 
suits. He was, owing to that wound, off duty for some time, and 
was honorably discharged and mustered out at Louisville, Ky., 
and is now a member of the G. A. R. In politics he figures with 
the republican party, and is at the present time (1883) a member 
of the city council at Nashua. Is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. fra- 
ternity and has passed up through the different official chairs in 
that institution. Was united in marriage to Christena C. Hoover, 
a native of Ohio, and they have three sons, William, Walter and 
Harry. 

Frank Badger, section 12, Bradford township, owns eighty 
acres of land, all under a fine state of cultivation, and is a mem- 
ber of the Bradford creamery association; is a native of the state of 
New York, where he was born in 1842, and received his early edu^ 
cation there. As westward the course of empire takes its way, ac- 
cordingly in '67, he took up the line of march, and located in Illi- 
nois, where he remained one year, and again removed to Black 
Hawk county Iowa. In 1869 he removed to Chickasaw county and 
made a permanant location in the above named place. He served 
in tne army 3 years and 9 months, in the 11 th N. Y. independent 
battery, and was honorably discharged and mustered out at Albany. 
In politics he is a staunch republican, aid has at difterent times 
been elected school director, and, is now (1883) township assessor. 
He was united in marriage with Jennie Harned, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and their family consists of two children, a son and a 
daughter named, Nellie L. and Willie W. 

S. S. Sample, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, cigars, tobacco, 
etc; was born in Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, in 1831; 
when quite young he came with his parents to Iowa, and located 
in Lee county, where he received his early schooling; at the age of 
seventeen he started out for himself, and traveled through Mis- 
souri. In December, 1854, he came to Bradford, Chickasaw county, 

where he remained about one year, when he again returned to his 

home in Lee county. He next spent some time in Missouri, when 

he again came back to Chickasaw county, there he engaged in the 



618 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

mercantile business. He served in the army three years, in com- 
pany G, twenty-seventh Iowa vohinteer infantry and enHsted at 
Nashua, Iowa, in '62, and honorably discharged, and mustered out, 
at Clinton, Iowa August, '65. During his period of soldiery he 
passed up through the regular gradations of office, and was finally, 
at the time of his discharge, second lieutenant. In politics he 
is a democrat, and is now (1883) a member of the G. A. R., and 
acts in the official capacity of junior vice commander. Was united 
in marriage to E. A. Harris, a native of Iowa, and have one son 
C. W. who is now employed in a wholesale and retail grocery 
house in St. Paul, Minn. They also have an adopted daughter, 
Nellie. 

R. S. McKee, farmer, section 16, owns 161 acres all fenced and 
well improved for dairy purposes. The subject of this sketch is a 
native of the old Empire state, where he was born in '46, and at 
the age of seven he came west with his parents to Wisconsin, and 
located in Jefferson county, where he remained until the spring of 
'65, when he came to Iowa, and located in Chickasaw county on 
his present location, and engaged in farming. He was one of the 
originators of the Bradford creamery, and is now, (1883) one of 
the directors of the same. On his farm, which is beautifully sit- 
uated on the east bank of the Cedar river, stands two of the oldest 
buildings in the county. One was the first school house ever 
built in the county, and now kept in good repair, and used as a 
kitchen. The other building was formerly occupied by an Indian 
trader, and is now in good repair, and is used as one of Mr. M.'s 
numerois farm buildings. In politics he has taken an active part 
and is a staunch democrat. He has held different town offices, 
such as member of the town board and school director. Is a mem- 
ber of the masonic fraternity, and was united in marriage to Alma 
McKenzie, a native of Milford, Wis., and they have one daughter, 
Eltta M. 

C. D. Johnson, farmer, section 16, where he owns sixty-eight 
acres, he also owns fifty -six acres on section 17, 480 acres on sec- 
tion 23, including some four hundred acres of timber land. His 
farm is finely fitted for stock raising, he having a heard of some 
sixty head of cattle, among which are some registered short-horns 
and Durhams, which he raises for sale, for the improvement of 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 619^ 

stock. Mr. J. is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 
Hampshire county, April 4, '28. At the age of eleven he came to 
Ohio with his parents, where he remained until '56, when he came 
to Iowa, and located on the above place, where he has resided con- 
tinuously ever since, with the exception of two years which he 
spent Cedar Falls, in order to give his children better educational 
facilities, of which cause Mr. J. is a great believer and promoter. 
Is a member of the Bradford creamery company, and served for a 
time as president of the same. In politics he is a republican and 
has filled the various township offices within the gift of the peo- 
ple. Was united in marriage to Susan W. Dickenson, a native of 
Massachusetts, and they have a family of two sons, Charles L. and 
Loyal K. 

Joseph F. Grawe, postmaster at Nashua, and editor and propri- 
etor of the Nashua Post (republican); was born in Prussia, in '43, 
and when five years old came with his parents to the United States. 
Their first settlement was in Stephenson county, 111., near Freeport-. 
He enlisted in '60, in company G, ninety-third Illinois infantry, 
and served till the close of the war; he was shot in the right side 
at Altoona, Ga., and was also captured and taken prisoner* Was 
again captured at HoUon Springs, Miss. ; twice experiencing the 
Horrors of southern prison life. In '67 he came to Nashua, and 
was engaged at school teaching until the fall of '69, when he was 
nominated by the republicans as superintendent of schools, and 
was elected with the remainder of the ticket,and served five years. 
In '73 he resigned, having purchased the Nashua Post, which pa- 
per he still edits and owns, and has a circulation of 1.100 copies, 
is republican in politics, and is the only paper published in the 
town. The office is in the Greeley block, and is well fitted as a 
news and job office, has just put in a new Campbell power press, 
and all the necessary material for a first-class office; he employs 
four compositors. Mr. G. received his commission as postmaster 
on April 29, '79, succeeding I. A. Rutherford. It is a third-class 
office, and besides being a regular money order office, it is the only 
international money order office in the county. Mr. G. was mar- 
ried on the 3d of June, '73, to Blanche A. Waite, and they have 
five children. 

E. W. Owen, farmer, section 12, Bradford township, owns 280 



620 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

acres, all fenced and well improved. He is a native of Ohio, where 
he was born in March, 1837. In '42 he came west and located in 
Walworth county, ^yisconsin, and in '66 he removed to Iowa' and 
located in Chickasaw county, where he has since been engaged in 
in farming. At the last election of officers he was elected president 
of the Bradford creamery, and is now (June, 1883,) the present 
incumbent. In politics he figures with the republican party, and 
has held the position of township treasurer of school funds. Is a 
member of the masonic fraternity. Was united in marriage to 
Alvina Bartholmew, a native of Ohio, and they have four children 
named, Isabell M. Bennett S. Gideon S. and Albert E. 

Rev. Chapman A. Marshall, pastor of the congregational church 
at Nashua, and state senator of this district, was born in Dublin, 
Ireland, in 1838, and is a son of General Marshall of the English 
army, stationed at that time at Dublin. He came to America, and 
in '57 located in Cresco, Howard county, Iowa, and entered the 
mercantile business, opening the first store in Cresco, and he re- 
mained in that business five years, when he sold out and came to 
Chickasaw county, settling at New Hampton, on a call from the 
Congregational church of that place, as pastor, in which capacity 
he ofliciated four years, then being called to the church at this 
place, where he has since filled the pulpit of the Congregational 
church. He was educated in Plymouth, England, and entered 
the ministry in Howard county, this state, in 70. In the fall of 
'81 he was elected to the state senate for Bremer,- Chickasaw and 
Howard counties, for the term of four years, on the republican 
ticket. He is a deservedly popular man among all classes, espec- 
ially the farmer, owning a large amount of land which he operates 
himself, among his property is a magnificent farm of 200 acres, 
near Cresco, which is thoroughly improved and well stocked. He 
owns other fine property in Howard and Chickasaw counties, and 
a fine residence property here. Was married in '60, at Plymouth, 
England, to Eliza Greinwell, and they have seven children all born 
in this state. 

G. W. Butterfield, one of the most prominent citizens of the 
flourishing sown of Nashua, was born near Brattleboro, Vt., in the 

year 1810. His parents moved in his childood to Herkimer 

county, N. Y., where he received his education, and served his 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 621 

apprenticeship as minwright,which business he followed there un- 
til '58; he then came to this state and located in this township, 
where he followed his trade. Was justice of the peace in that 
early day, and also served on the board of supervisors several 
years, and in 70 was elected tc the state legislature, in the thir- 
teenth general assembly, and he has always been identified with 
the republican party. He still resides where he first settled, in 
what is called Greenwood, which is now a precinct of Nashua, and 
is one mile from that city. In '65, in partnership with his son, G. 
T. Butterfield, he established the present firm of G. T. Butterfield 
& Co.. his son carrying on the business of general merchandise, 
and they have a fine business. Was united in marriage to Miss 
M. F. Campbell, of N. Y., in '52, and they have two sons, G. T. 
and H. L. Mr. B. Also owns a fine farm of 150 acres, all under 
cultivation, and well improved, situated four miles northeast of 
Nashua, which he rents. 

B. A. Billings, of the firm of Fairbain & Billings, attorney at 
law, Nashua, Iowa, was born in December, '44, in St. Lawrence 
county, N. Y., and in '54 his parents moved to Winnebago county 
111., and in the following fall they came to Iowa, and located at 
Bradford, the then county seat of Chickasaw county, and entered 
eighty acres of land near there from the government. Mr. B. re- 
ceived his education at the Bradford seminary, and the Iowa col- 
lege at Grinnelle. ^ In the spring of '64 he enlisted in company 
B, Iowa volunteer infantry, under Colonel Henderson, and after 
serving one hundred days, was honorably discharged, and return- 
ed to Bradford. He commenced the study of law at Bradford, 
with A. G. Case, now of Charles City, and after spending a year in 
Colorada, resumed the study under S. P. Leland, and was admit- 
ted to the bar in the fall of '72, at New Hampton, under Judge 
McGathery, and commenced practicing at this place in partner- 
ship with J. W. Kellog. The present partnership has existed 
since 76. Othcein Greeley's block. 

Bradford township Creamery association, established 1888 and 
commenced operation on May 11 th, of the same year. It furnishes 
permanent employment for fifteen men, and eleven teams, which 

is a commendable enterprize for the originators thereof. Tne size 

of the building is 24x50, two stories high; they have two 300 gallon 



622 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



churns in use, which is operated by a six harse power engine. As 
an illustration of the business transacted, we will say that on the 
16 th day of June, '83,1,600 gallons of cream was received; and 
the average shipments of butter for this month is 7,500 pounds 
per week, or over 30,000 pounds for the month. The officers are as 
follows: president, E. W. Owen; treasnrer, Frank Badger; secre- 
tary, M. J. Heald; directors, R. S. McKee, William Laylin, L. 
€. Smith, John Heald and Robert Wright. 




CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 623 



RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 



Daniel Schnurr, section 1, P. 0. New Hampton, owns 141 acres 
of land, valued at S25 per acre; was born at Baden Germany, Jan- 
uary 15, '33, and came to America in '54, first locating in St. Louis, 
Mo. In '55 he went to New Orleans, and was employed on a 
steamboat on the lower Mississippi river, but in the fall he return- 
ed to St. Louis. In '56 he was in Illinois, working on a railroad, 
and the same year returned to St. Louis and followed gardening in 
the suburbs of that city. In the fall of that year he came to 
Davenport, Iowa, and in '72 he came to Chickasaw county, and 
permanently located in this township. Was married in '66 to 
Catharina Bald, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, June 10, '50, 
and they have six children, Carl, Wilhelmina, Daniel, Rosa, Jo- 
hann and Josephena. The entire family are members of the Ro. 
man Catholic church. 

Hiram Bailey, farmer, section, 16, P. 0. Williamstown, owns 
480 acres of land, valued at S25 per acre; was born in Huron Co., 



624 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

Ohio, July 12, '24, and at the age of three years he moved with his 
parents to Berlin, Erie county, Ohio, and in '56 came to Chicka- 
saw county, and permanently located in this township. Was mar 
ried December 9, '52, to Martha A. Ogden, a native of Greenspring, 
Ohio, who was born January 28, 1828, and they have four child- 
ren, Fred Douglas, Rush 0., Roy T. and Ben L. Mr. and Mrs. B. 
are members of the Baptist church. Mr. B. works his home farm 
himself, and his business is principally stock raising, keeping on 
his place about 150 head of cattle, natives and Durhams. He has 
represented Howard, Chickasaw and Bremer counties (which at 
that time formed the forty-fourth senatorial district)at Des Moines 
from '74 to '78, in the state senate, and has been a member of the 
state board of agriculture for four years, was for six years a mem- 
ber of the county board of supervisors; ten years superintendent 
of Sunday school ; two years president of the county Sunday 
school association, and president of the Chickasaw county agricul- 
tural society, for three years. He entered 200 acres of his land the 
government, when he first settled. 

Richard P. Pierce, section 15, P. 0. Williamstown, owns 440 
acres of land, valued at S20 per acre; was born in England, in '14, 
and came to America in '41, and first located in Jackson county, 
Michigan. In '48 he removed to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and 
in '67, came to Chickasaw county,and permanantly located in this 
township. Was married to Grace Uglow, in "37, who was born in 
England, in '16. They have six children, John P., Margery, Elisa- 
beth, Richard U., Edwin A. and Frank M. Mr.and Mrs. Pierce are 
members of the M. E. church. Mr. P. has been quite prominent 
in politics: while he resided in Wisconsin he was a member of the 
board of supervisors for nine years and justice of the peace ten 
years. Since his residence in this county, he has held the offices 
of justice of the peace, and township trustee. Mr. P. has a very 
fine herd of Devonshire cattle, the only herd of the kind in the 
county 

A. Hart, farmer, section 31, P. 0. Ionia; was born in Massachu- 
setts, October 22, 1817, and came west in '40, and located in Jef- 
ferson county, Wis. In '65 he came to Chickasaw county, where 
he has since resided. Besides being a farmer Mr. H. was for a 
number of years a teacher in the high schools of the county. Was 
man-ied to L. Rebecca, in '56, and they have five children, A. C, 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 62o 

whose age is thirty -seven years; Lauretta, age thirty-four; W. A. 
age thirty-two; J. F,, age twenty-five, and Lilhan, age ninet'^en. 

Frederick L. Hall, section 21, P. O. Nashua, owns 200 acres ot 
land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Duchess county, N. ^'. in 
1827, and came out west in '55, locating in Chickasaw eoiinly' in 
this township. Was married in 1858, to Harriett E. INIooro. whd 
was born in Tioga, N. Y. in 1838, and they have' three children, 
John Jay, Amos M. and Mary Emily. Mr. and Mrs. H. are 
members of the M. E, church. Mr. H. is prominent as a politician; 
in this county, and has held the office of prosecuting attorney two 
years, 1856 and '57, he was elected one of the first justices of the 
peace, when the township was organized, he has also been trustee, 
etc. His business is principaly stock raising, and he keeps on 
his place about 50 head of natives and Devon grades of cattle. 

Julius J. Simmons, section 22, P. 0. Nashua, owns 200 acres 
of land' valued at $30 per acre; was born in Montrose. Susquehanna 
county, Pa. Feb. 11, 1839, and cama Avest to Aurora, Ills. In '65 
he came to Chickasaw county and permantly located in this town- 
ship; was married December 26 1859, to Mary I. Cooper, who was 
born in Oneida, N. Y. July 3 1859. Mrs. S. is a member of the 
M. E. church. They have 5 children: Nellie A., Willard J. 
Nathan L., Samuel H., Harry and Gracie Maud. Mr. S. has a 
fine stock farm, on which he keeps some very fine stock: pedigreed 
short horns, durhams, and also full blooded Berkshire hogs etc.. 
his herd of cattle numbers about 50 head. Mr. S. has been quite 
prominent in county politics, has held office of county supervisor, 
trustee etc. 

Henry H. Bailey, farmer, section 13, P. 0. Willianistown, ownt 
550 acres of land, valued at $18 per acre; was born in Ohio, Sep- 
tember 26, '37, and came west in INIarch, '55, and located in Chick- 
asaw county, and made it his permanent home. Was married to 
Sarah P. Birdsall, who was born in New York, September 9, '52. 
and they have three children, Nellie Blanche, Louis P. Susie Ann. 
Mt. B. enlisted Sept 26, '61, in the seventh Ohio infantry, com- 
pany E, and served with his regiment until the close of the war,. 
Mr. B. is an extensive farmer, and is also the merchant and post- 
master of William stown. 

Reuben Fairbank, section 35, Avas born at Rouse's Point, N. Y., 



626 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 

in 1780, and in the same year moved with his parents to Canada, 
and in '37 he came to the United States, and located in Illinois. 
In '57 he came to Chickasaw county, and located in this township. 
He died in '70. He married Lydia Shelden, of Canada, who was 
born in 1801, and they had two children, John and Eliza. John 
Fairbank, section 35, P. 0. Nashua, owns eighty acres of land, 
valued at $25 per acre; was born in Lower Canada, in '36, and 
came to the United States with his parents the following year, and 
located in Illinois, and in '57 came to Chickasaw county, and set- 
tled in this township, where he has held the position of trustee 
ever since his residence here. 

John S. Carter, section 4, owns 110 acres of land; was born in 
Luzerne county. Pa.. March, '32, and came west in '55, and located 
in Wisconsin, but in '57 removed to Ray county. Mo., and in '59^ 
went to C'alifornia. and in '62 to British Columbia, Oregon and 
Idaho. From thence in '69, he came to Chickasaw county, and 
located in this township. Was married in '72 to Sarah Jane Mar- 
vin, and the)' have five children, Lenna, Victoria, May Belle and 
A verm Maud. 

W. W. Orr. section 4, owns 245 acres of land, was born in Scot- 
land, in 1850, and came to America with his parents in '53, and 
first located in Wisconsin, but in '64 came to Chickasaw county,, 
in '69 he went to Missouri, and returned to this county in ,70. 
Was married in '81 to Lillian L. Hart, and they have one child, 
John H. 

Charles S. Putney, section 24, owns 200 acres of land; was born 
in Livingston county, iV. Y., in '35, and came west with his pa- 
rents in '47, and located in Wisconsin, and in '68 came to this 
county, and located in this township. Was married to Mary A. 
Granger, and they have two children, Charles W. and Bertie Grant. 

Hiram J. Weed, section 2, owns eighty acres of land; was born 
In K]rie county, Ohio, in '50, and came west in '71 to Chickasaw 
county, and located in this township. Mr. W. has a fine farm 
which he cultivates for vegatables and cereals, and also raises 
some fine stock. 

M. Massee, section 33, P. 0. Nashua, owns 320 acres of land, 
valued at $15 per acre; was born in Oneida county, N. Y. in 1835, 
and came west with his parents, to Aurora, Kane county, Illinois. 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 627 

In '56 came to Chickasaw county, and permanently located in^thia 
township. Was married in 1856, to Harriett Shelden, of Oneida 
county, New York. They have two children Anna and Seymore. 
Mr. M. purchased his land in a wild state, and improved it him- 
self, he has followed dairy and stock farming during 11 years of 
his residence in this township, also milks 46 cows. He keeps on 
his farm about 80 head of cattle and is improving his stock with 
fine short horn Durhams, and has his entire farm under 
cultivation. 

Nathaniel B. Ager, section 12, P. 0. Williamstown, owns 100 
acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; was born in Merrimack 
county, New Hampshire, in 1827, and came west in June, '61, to 
Chickasaw county, and permanenly located in this township. 
Was married to Ellen J. Johnson, who was born in Rockingham 
Vermont in 1830. Mr. B. has a fine farm which he manages him- 
self. 



628 CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Charles S. Cotant was born in Ulster county, N. Y., in '27, his | 

family removing a few years subsequent to Huron county, Ohio, ' 

where they remained about twenty-six years. In the spring «f 1 

'58 they came to New Hampton, engaging in farming about four ] 

miles from the village. In '62 the subject of this sketch engaged \ 
in Blacksmithing in New Hampton, in which business he still 

continues. In '54 he was married to Lyvah S. Taylor, of Ohio, i 

and they have four children, Beulah, Byron, Lydia and Agnes. : 
His venerable parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zephaniah Cotant, reside 

with him. i 

M. J. Clary, Jr., farmer, was born in New Haven., Conn., in '52, 
and is the oldest son of Michael and Anna Clary. When he was 

very young his parents removed to Providence, R. I., and lived J 
there two years, then went to Buffalo, N. Y., wHere they stayed 

three years; in '58 they removed to Wisconsin where they remain- i 

ed thirteen years; in '70 they came to Iowa and located in this ; 
county. Mr. C. was elected justice of the peace in 188o, and liolds 

the office at present. ' j 



CHICKASAW COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. 629 

Mrs. p. J. Kennedy, was born in Stuben county, New York, 
in 1843, and is the only daughter of John' and Martha A. Streator. 

She came to Iowa when but eleven years old, and has made it her 
residence ever since. 

Michael Clarey Sr., section 33, Stapleton township, P. 0. Lawler 

owns 120 acres of land, was born in Ireland in 1812, and came to 
America in 1847. He settled in Canada, but after a residence of 
one year he removed to the U. S. and settled in Connecticut. 
Was married in '37, to Anna Sullivan, a native of Ireland, and 
have five children Anna E., Michael J., Edward .J., Timothy C. 
and Elizabeth. 



^11 '111 1 -l'*^ '"■'■'^P'''''**''- ■^^f'fi*^ '^^ * ^^ 

r)f jnftt what is rfqnirftrl hy the r ikV — » 

LIAL ■ , , ■ ^ '- 

riliriiin.^llLWUlFQ'HT.niL 

It ownR and operates ove-.r i,fA^) mtles ot' r*.»«l tn iv>rth*',rn HV 
inois, Wiscrmsin, Minnesota, fr.wa an'l Dakota; anrl a« its inSKin- 
Hn^, br*^ ■' ' ' ''■-' "^■'"'l r-xttiTi'^"'^''^'' " reach -^'^ '" '■ '•■■•■•-f-f m^-i.-.o-jo ..-,,f,:,Tj 
of the; and F>i t, it na , 

turn of Short fine, Atui best route betvreen 

€hwiago, Milwaukee, 8t. Paul and ,Vfinneap<-'i8. 

Chicago, Milwaukee, T^Crosse and Winona. 

Chicago, >filwaukee, Aberdeen an<l Rn*^Tifl^,< 

ChieagO, Milwaukee, Kau Claire an<. '^ater. 

Chicago^ Milwaukee, Wausaia anrl M 

Chicago, Milwaukee, Beaver Dam and Oshkosh. 

Chio^o, Milwaukee, Wauke«ha aivl Oconomowoc. 

Chicago, Milwaukee, Ma^lison and Frairie du Chipn. 

Chicago, Milwaukae, Owatonna and Fairbault 

Chica^, Beloit, Jactesville and Mineral Pnint. 

Chica)^, Elgin,- Rock ford ami Dnhnrmr' 

Chica^, Clinton, Rock Island an*. • Riini.ls 

Chicago, Council Rluffe ami Omaha. 

Chicago, Sioux City, Sioux ffallw ami yankti)n. 

Chicago, Milwaukee, Mitchell and Chainberlitt, 

Rock fdand, Dubuque, St. Raulan<l Minneaonltw 

Davenport, Calmar, St. Raul and Minneapolit*. 

Pullman Sleepers and '^^■"^ ''.-.^.-.f rn..;,,.r r.^.o ",, r;.^ ,, ,»-i,f !,•-> 
rin on *he main line of the . , 

./, and every attention i« pai< I 14 ) patwengers hy 
courteous employes of the company. 

ft. a MERR A. 

General Manager. 
XT. CLARK, G\Hj. 

Gen. Supt. Am'.i '.en. .'.iss • .' 



CONTENTS. 



HISTORY OF IOWA. 

PAGE. 

History of Iowa 9 

History of Chickasaw County • • • • 119 

Bradford Township 191 

New Haini)ton Township . .- 205 

Frederickshurg Township 245 

Stapleton Township 256 

Chickasaw Township 272 

Dayton Township 278 

Washington Township 280 

Richland Township 281 

Deerfiehi Township '. 283 

Jacksonville Township 286 

Utica Township 288 

Dresden Township 289 

War Record 295 

Chronology 316 

History of Howard County 327 

Vernon Springs Township 421 

Forest City Township 444 

Saratoga Township 453 

Paris Township 454 

Afton Township 454 

Howard Township 455 

Jamestown Township • 455 

Howard Center Townthip 458 

Albion Township 461 

New Oregon Township . . 463 

Chester Township 469 

Oakdale Township 469 

War Record 473 

Chronology 492 

Biographical Sketches *^07 



\.bWv'3Q 



